Polymerizable composition

ABSTRACT

Compounds of formula (I), ##STR1## wherein X is CH, C--CH 3 , C--Cl, C--O--C 1  -C 8  alkyl or N; R is C 1  -C 6  alkyl, benzyl, CH 2  COOR 3  or a group (a); R 1  is C 1  -C 8  alkoxy, C 1  -C 12  alkyl, halogen, NO 2 , benzyloxy or phenyloxy, wherein the phenyl ring in the benzyloxy or phenyloxy group is unsubstituted or substituted by C 1  -C 6  alkoxy, C 1  -C 12  alkyl, halogen or CF 3  ; R 2  is C 1  -C 8  alkoxy, C 1  -C 12  alkyl, benzyloxy or phenyloxy, wherein the phenyl ring in the benzyloxy or phenyloxy group is unsubstituted or substituted by C 1  -C 6  alkoxy, C 1  -C 12  alkyl, halogen or CF 3  ; R 3  is hydrogen, C 1  -C 12  alkyl or benzyl; Y is unsubstituted or C 1  -C 6  alkoxy-substituted C 1  -C 6  alkyl, or Y is C 1  -C 6  alkoxy, halogen, CF 3 , NO 2 , benzyloxy or phenyloxy, wherein the phenyl ring in the benzyloxy or phenyloxy group is unsubstituted or substituted by C 1  -C 6  alkoxy, C 1  -C 12  alkyl, halogen or CF 3  or, if n is two and both Y are alkoxy, these alkoxy groups may form a dioxane or dioxane fused to the phenyl of the styril residue; n is 1 to 4, preferably 1; and L is an anion; are useful as photoinitiators, especially in combination with borate anions.

This invention relates to a photoinitiator system, a polymerisable composition, comprising the photoinitiator system and to new dyes usable as photoinitiators and precursors of such dyes.

For free radical polymerisation of an olefinically unsaturated compound one method is to irradiate a composition containing it and a photoinitiator with electromagnetic radiation such as visible or ultraviolet light, the photoinitiator generating free radicals when so irradiated. It has now been found that in photoinitiated compositions containing certain styryl-substituted heterocycles provide rapid photopolymerisation and are also bleachable by electro-magnetic radiation, so that they can cause little or no discoloration of the resulting polymer and can provide a means of forming polymer in relatively thick layers.

The present invention pertains to a photoinitiator system comprising (a) at least one O-alkylated aromatic nitrogen-heterocycle amine oxide cation salt and optionally (b) at least one electron donor compound.

Preferably the O-alkylated aromatic nitrogen-heterocycle amine oxide cation, carries a styryl substituent in at least one of its 2-, 4- and 6-positions. Such an oxide is cationic and is of course accompanied by an anion, which can be any convenient one, provided it does not interfere with the polymerisation process or introduce unwanted components; it may enhance the photoinitiator activity, as shown below. The parent heterocycle of the oxide should be one incapable of absorbing light absorbed by the photoinitiator and preferably colourless.

O-Alkylated aromatic nitrogen-heterocycle amine oxides are for example disclosed in EP-A 441 232 and especially in EP-A 498 194. Further compounds of that kind are disclosed by W. Schnabel in Macromolecular Engineering, edited by M. K. Mishra et al, Plenum Press, New York (1995), pages 67-83 and in Adv. Polym. Sci. 1997, 127, 59-86.

The parent heterocycle of the oxide cation preferably contains a pyridine or 1,4-diazine ring, especially a condensed ring system such as quinoline or 5,6-benz-1,4-diazine. The term "aromatic" as used herein includes any such heterocycles having conjugated double bonds in the ring.

The oxide cation preferably has the structure of the formula I as described below. Especially preferred are photoinitiator systems comprising as O-alkylated aromatic nitrogen-heterocycle amine oxide cation a compound of the formula I ##STR2## wherein X is CH, C--CH₃, C--Cl, C--O--C₁ -C₈ alkyl or N;

R is C₁ -C₆ alkyl, benzyl, CH₂ COOR₃ or a group ##STR3## R₁ is C₁ -C₈ alkoxy, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, halogen, NO₂, benzyloxy or phenyloxy, wherein the phenylring in the benzyloxy or phenyloxy group is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, halogen or CF₃ ;

R₂ is C₁ -C₈ alkoxy, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, benzyloxy or phenyloxy, wherein the phenylring in the benzyloxy or phenyloxy group is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, halogen or CF₃ ;

R₃ is hydrogen, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl or benzyl;

Y is unsubstituted or C₁ -C₆ alkoxy-substituted C₁ -C₆ alkyl, or Y is C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, halogen, CF₃, NO₂, CF₃ O, benzyloxy or phenyloxy, wherein the phenylring in the benzyloxy or phenyloxy group is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, halogen or CF₃ or, if n is two and both Y are alkoxy these alkoxy groups may form a dioxane or dioxane fused to the phenyl of the styryl residue;

n is 1 to 4, preferably 1; and

L is an anion.

Both n of (R₁)_(n) and (Y)_(n) are meant to be independently of one another 1 to 4. (R₁)_(n) in the context of this application may be n different R₁, independently of one another having one of the meanings given above. The same applies for (Y)_(n).

If n in the formula I is two and both Y are C₁ -C₆ alkoxy and these alkoxy groups form a dixolane or dioxane fused to the phenyl of the styryl residue a structure of the following formula Ia is meant ##STR4## wherein n1 is an integer 1 or 2 and R, R₁, R₂, X and n are as defined above.

The oxide cation preferably has the structure Ib; ##STR5## where X is CH or N;

R is C₁₋₆ alkyl; and

Y is a bathochromic, neutral or hypsochromic substituent, preferably in the 4-position but possibly the residue of one or more condensed rings;

n is 1 to 4 preferably 1.

Y may be for example (wavelength peak λmax, nm, bracketed): bathochromic: 4-C₁₋₆ alkyl, for example isopropyl (440); 4-C₁₋₆ alkoxy, for example methoxy (460); neutral: 4-chloro (410); unsubstituted (405); hypsochromic: 4-nitro (215: not preferred in the process). (Wavelength peaks refer to a 0.01 g/l solution of the --O-methyl quinoline n-butyl triphenyl borate salt in ethanol or dichloromethane).

"L" in the formula I is any anion. For example a tosylate, BF₄ ³¹ , AsF₆ ⁻, SbF₆ ⁻, PF₆ ⁻, a halogenide, perchlorate etc. It may also be a borate anion, for example one as described later on in this context according to the formulae II or III (wherein in the formulae II and III the corresponding cation "G⁺ " has to be omitted).

The invention in a further aspect provides per se, the --O-alkylated styryl amine oxide salts generally, such salts having any anion, and the styryl amine oxide precursor thereof. Therefore, the invention also pertains to compounds of the formula I as defined above.

The invention further provides a method of making the oxide cation by the steps:

(1) providing an aromatic nitrogen-heterocycle having a methylene group in one or more of the 2-, 4- and 6-positions relative to a ring nitrogen;

(2) oxidising the relevant ring nitrogen to amine oxide, for example by the action of a peroxide, e.g. peracetic acid;

(3) reacting the amine oxide with a benzaldehyde optionally carrying a substitutent Y as defined above, suitably catalysed by alkali, e.g. methanolic potassium hydroxide;

(4) alkylating the product of (3) by the action of an alkylating agent such as, for example, methyl tolyl-4-sulphonate to give the oxide cation as the salt of the anion of the alkylating agent.

If the salt of another anion, e.g. a borate (as described below), is required, the method includes the further step of

(5) reacting the salt with a salt of the required anion, e.g. the borate salt, suitably an (alkyl) ammonium salt, an alkaline metal salt or magnesium salt.

The reaction conditions for these reactions are generally known to the worker skilled in the art.

Suitable electron donor compounds (b) in the present photoinitiator system are borates, thiols, amines, organotin compounds, phosphines, arsines, sulfinates, carboxylates or aluminates.

Preferred electron donor compounds are borates, for example those of the formulae II, IIa and III (described below), such as triphenyl butyl borate. Further suitable electron donor compounds are thiols, amines, for example triethanolamine, N-phenylglycine or (2,5-dimethyl)-1-thia-3,4-diazole, organotin compounds, for example benzyltrimethylstannane, phosphines, arsines, for example triphenylphosphine or triphenylarsine, as described for example in JP-A Hei 6 263809, sulfinates, for example sodium p-toluenesulfinate, or carboxylates, for example ascorbic acid. Coinitiators of this kind are described, for example, in Chemistry & Technology of UV & EB Formulation for Coatings, Inks & Paints, Vol.3, page 344-348 (London, 1991). Suitable aluminates are for example described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,373.

For example the photoinitiator system comprises an O-alkylated aromatic nitrogen-heterocycle amine oxide salt and an electron donor compound, such as, for example a tetrahydro-carbylborate (THB), preferably of the formula II, IIa or III, as decribed below. Said electron donor compound if anionic (i.e. borate, aluminate) may be a component of the amine oxide salt or may be a seperate species. A combination of several electron donor compounds may also be employed. Thus, the photoinitiator system according to the invention comprises both the borate salt of the amine oxide cation with or without additional electron donor compounds (b) as well as the combination of another type of amine oxide cation salt (e.g. anion=PF₆ ⁻, Tosylate⁻, Halogen⁻, etc.) with any borate salt (e.g. cation=tetraalkylammonium, phosphonium, sulfonium, iodonium, etc.). Wherein the "cation" and "anion" are any positive or negative ionic species.

If an electron donor compound is comprised in the formula I in the form of the anion (=L), the addition of a seperate electron donor component (b) in the photoinitiator system according to the invention is not unequivocally necessary.

If a THB anion is present, it preferably contains hydrocarbon radicals of more than one type, for example some aromatic and some aliphatic, so that when liberated as a free radical it readily dissociates into a hydrocarbon free radical and a tri-hydrocarbyl boron.

The THB anion preferably has 3 aromatic radicals and 1 aliphatic radical linked to boron. Suitably the aromatic radicals are phenyl optionally carrying one or more non-reactive substituents such as halogen, alkyl or alkoxy. Suitably the aliphatic radical contains 2-8 carbon atoms, is saturated and may be branched.

Suitable borate compounds, either as electron donor (b) or as anion "L" for the dye of the formula I (in this case, without the defined cation G) for the present photoinitiator systems are especially compounds of the formula II or IIa ##STR6## R₄, R₅, R₆ and R₇ independently of one another are phenyl or another aromatic hydrocarbon, with or without any heteroatoms, which aromatic radicals are unsubstituted or are substituted 1-5 times by unsubstituted or OR₂₃ - or R₂₄ R₂₅ N-substituted C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₂ -C₂₀ alkyl which is interrupted by one or more radicals O, S(O)_(p) or NR₂₆, or the aromatic radicals are substituted by OR₂₃, R₂₃ S(O)_(p), R₂₃ S(O)₂ O, R₂₄ R₂₅ N, R₂₃ OC(O), R₂₄ R₂₅ NC(O), R₂₇ C(O), R₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉ Si, R₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉ Sn, halogen, CN, R₂₇ R₂₈ P(O)_(q), CN and/or ##STR7## or the radicals R₅ and R₆ form bridges to produce structures of the formula IV, IVa or IVb ##STR8## whose aromatic rings are unsubstituted or are substituted by C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, by C₂ -C₂₀ alkyl which is interrupted by one or more radicals O, S(O)_(p) or NR₂₆, or the aromatic rings are substituted by OR₂₃, R₂₃ S(O)_(p), R₂₃ S(O)₂ O, R₂₄ R₂₅ N, R₂₃ OC(O), R₂₄ R₂₅ NC(O), R₂₇ C(O), R₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉ Si, halogen, CN, R₂₇ R₂₈ P(O)_(q) and/or R₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉ Sn, or

R₄, R₅, R₆ and R₇ independently of one another are R₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉ Si, or

R₄, R₅, R₆ and R₇ independently of one another are C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₂ -C₂₀ alkyl which is interrupted by one or more radicals O, S(O)_(p) or NR₂₆, or is C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl, C₂ -C₈ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or naphthyl-C₁ --C₃ alkyl, where the radicals C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl, C₂ -C₈ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or naphthyl-C₁ -C₃ alkyl are unsubstituted or are substituted by OR₂₃, R₂₃ S(O)_(p), R₂₃ S(O)₂ O, R₂₄ R₂₅ N, R₂₃ OC(O), R₂₄ R₂₅ NC(O), R₂₇ C(O), R₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉ Si, R₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉ Sn, halogen, R₂₇ R₂₈ P(O)_(q), and/or CN;

R₈ is a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon radical which is unsubsituted or is substituted by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, OR₂₃, R₂₃ S(O)_(p), R₂₃ S(O)₂ O, R₂₄ R₂₅ N, R₂₃ OC(O), R₂₄ R₂₅ NC(O), R₂₇ C(O), R₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉ Si, CN or halogen, or R₈ is phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkylene;

E is R₁₅ R₁₆ R₁₇ P, R₂₃ R₂₄ R₂₅ N or R₂₃ R_(23a) S;

R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ independently of one another are C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₂ -C₁₂ akenyl or C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl, where the radicals C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₂ -C₁₂ alkenyl and C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl are unsubstituted or are substituted by R₂₃ OCO or CN, or R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are unsubstituted or mono- to penta-C₁ -C₆ alkyl-, --C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy- or -halogen-substituted phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or are unsubstituted or mono- to penta-C₁ -C₆ alkyl-, --C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy- or -halogen-substituted phenyl;

Y₁ is (CH₂)_(x), CH═CH, C(O), NR₂₆, O, S(O)_(p) --CR₄₂ R₄₃ --, ##STR9##

x is 0, 1, 2 or 3;

y is 2 or 3;

p is 0, 1 or 2;

q is 0 or 1;

R₂₃ and R_(23a) independently of one another are unsubstituted or halogen-substituted C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl, where the radicals phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl are unsubstituted or are substituted 1-5 times by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy and/or halogen;

R₂₄, and R₂₅ independently of one another are hydrogen, unsubstituted or C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy-, halogen-, OH--, COOR₂₃ -- or CN-substituted C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl, where the radicals phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl are unsubstituted or are substituted 1-5 times by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy and/or halogen, or R₂₄ and R₂₅, together with the N atom to which they are attached, form a 5- or 6-membered ring which may additionally contain O or S atoms;

R₂₆ is hydrogen, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl, where the radicals phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl are unsubstituted or are substituted 1-5 times by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy and/or halogen;

R₂₇, R₂₈ and R₂₉ independently of one another are C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl, where the radicals phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl are unsubstituted or are substituted 1-5 times by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy and/or halogen;

R₃₀, R₃₁, R₃₂ and R₃₃ independently of one another are hydrogen, unsubstituted or C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy-substituted C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, unsubstituted or mono- to penta-C₁ -C₆ alkyl-, --C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy- or -halogen-substituted phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or are unsubstituted or mono- to penta-C₁ -C₆ alkyl-, --C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy- or -halogen-substituted phenyl, or any two of the radicals R₃₀, R₃₁, R₃₂ and R₃₃ together form an aromatic ring to which further aromatic rings may be fused;

R₃₄, R₃₅, R₃₆, R₃₇, R₃₈ and R₃₉ independently of one another are hydrogen, unsubstituted or C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy-, OH-- or halogen-substituted C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl or are unsubstituted or C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl-, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy-, OH-- or halogen-substituted phenyl;

R₄₂ and R₄₃ are C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl, or R₄₂ and R₄₃, together with the C atom to which they are attached, form a 5- or 6-membered ring; ##STR10## X₂ is N, S or O; and G is a radical which is able for form positive ions.

Specific examples for compounds of the formula II are given in the following table

    __________________________________________________________________________      ##STR11##                                                                                                                               Melting                                                                        point                R.sub.4        R.sub.5        R.sub.6        R.sub.7                                                                              G.sup.+                                                                               [°            __________________________________________________________________________                                                               C.]                  Mesityl        Mesityl        Biphenyl       Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     141-144              Mesityl        Mesityl        1-Naphthyl     Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     226-227              Mesityl        Mesityl        1-Naphthyl     Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     200-201              Mesityl        Mesityl        1-Naphthyl     Butyl QTX    139-148              Mesityl        Mesityl        1-Naphthyl     Butyl Cyanine                                                                               95-102               Mesityl        Mesityl        1-Naphthyl     Methyl                                                                               Safranin                                                                              >230                                                                    cation                      Mesityl        Mesityl        1-Naphthyl     Methyl                                                                               N(C.sub.10 H.sub.21).su                                                        b.4    104-105              Chloro-        Chloro-        1-Naphthyl     Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     228-233              mesityl        mesityl                                                         Chloro-        Chloro-        1-Naphthyl     Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     108-113              mesityl        mesityl                                                         Chloro-        Chloro-        1-Naphthyl     Butyl QTX    139-145              mesityl        mesityl                                                         Chloro-        Chloro-        1-Naphthyl     Butyl Cyanine                                                                               88-100               mesityl        mesityl                                                         Mesityl        Mesityl        2-Naphthyl     Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     235-238              Mesityl        Mesityl        2-Naphthyl     Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     208-210              o-Tolyl        o-Tolyl        9-Anthracyl    Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     220-222              o-Tolyl        o-Tolyl        9-Anthracyl    Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     170-190              Mesityl        Mesityl        9-Phenan-      Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     139-140                                            thryl                                            Mesityl        Mesityl        9-Phenan-      Phenyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                         thryl                                            Chloro-        Chloro-        9-Phenan-      Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     150-156              mesityl        mesityl        thryl                                            Dichloro-      Dichloro-      9-Phenan-      Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     165-170              mesityl        mesityl        thryl                                            Mesityl        Mesityl        1-Pyrenyl      Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     214-215              Chloro-        Chloro-        1-Pyrenyl      Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     146-148              mesityl        mesityl                                                         Dichloro-      Dichloro-      Biphenyl       Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     203-205              mesityl        mesityl                                                         Dichloro-      Dichloro-      4'-Bromo-      Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4           mesityl        mesityl        biphenyl                                         2-Methyl-      2-Methyl-      Phenyl         Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     200-202              naphth-1-yl    naphth-1-yl                                                     9-Anthracyl    9-Anthracyl    Phenyl         Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     165-168              Mesityl        Mesityl        (4-Phenyl-     Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     185-186                                            thio)phenyl                                      Mesityl        Mesityl        1-Dimethyl-    Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     145-148                                            amino-                                                                         naphthyl                                         Chloro-        Chloro-        p-(thiophenyl)-                                                                               methyl                                                                               triphenyl-                                                                            110-111              mesityl        mesityl        phenyl               sulfonium                   Mesityl        Mesityl        p-Fluoro-      Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     258-260                                            phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        p-Fluoro-      Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     221-225                                            phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        p-Chloro-      Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     255-256                                            phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        p-Chloro-      Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     247-249                                            phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        o-Tolyl        Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     >230                 Mesityl        Mesityl        Phenyl         Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     249-250              Mesityl        Mesityl        Phenyl         Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     253-254              Bromo-         Bromo-         Phenyl         Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     205-206              mesityl        mesityl                                                         Dichloro-      Dichloro-      Phenyl         Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     200-201              mesityl        mesityl                                                         Dichloro-      Dichloro-      Phenyl         Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     204-205              mesityl        mesityl                                                         Chloro-        Chloro-        Phenyl         Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     200-203              mesityl        mesityl                                                         Mesityl        Mesityl        p-Fluoro-      Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     258-260                                            phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        p-Fluoro-      Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     221-225                                            phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        m-Fluoro-      Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     249-250                                            phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        m-Fluoro-      Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     245-246                                            phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        3,4-Di-fluoro- Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     260-261                                            phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        3,5-Di-fluoro- Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     244-246                                            phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        3,5-Bis(tri-   Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     254-256                                            fluoro-                                                                        methyl)-                                                                       phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        3,5-Bis(tri-   Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     205-206                                            fluoromethyl)-                                                                 phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        3-Bromo-5-     Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     195-200                                            fluoro-phenyl                                    Mesityl        Mesityl        p-Chloro-      Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     255-256                                            phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        p-Chloro-      Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     247-249                                            phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        m-Chloro-      Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     232-236                                            phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        m-Chloro-      Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     240-241                                            phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        p-Bromo-       Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     >250                                               phenyl                                           Chloro-        Chloro-        p-Bromo-       Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     248-249              mesityl        mesityl        phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        2,5-Di-        Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     240-242                                            methyl-4-                                                                      bromophenyl                                      Mesityl        Mesityl        Mesityl        Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     >230                 p-Chloro-      p-Chloro-      Phenyl         Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4           duryl          duryl                                                           p-Chloro-      p-Chloro-      Butyl          Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     164-165              duryl          duryl                                                           o-Tolyl        o-Tolyl        o-Tolyl        Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     >250                 o-Tolyl        o-Tolyl        o-Tolyl        Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     248-250              o-Methoxy-     o-Methoxy-     o-Methoxy-     Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4           phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           Mesityl        Mesityl        Butyl          Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     194-195              Mesityl        Mesityl        (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                         Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     145-147                                            CH.sub.2 --                                      Mesityl        Mesityl        Phenyl         Phenyl                                                                               N(C.sub.10 H.sub.21).su                                                        b.4    182-183              Mesityl        Mesityl        Phenyl         Phenyl                                                                               Cyanine                     (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                         (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                         (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                         (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     165-167              CH.sub.2 --    CH.sub.2 --    CH.sub.2 --    CH.sub.2 --                       (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                         (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                         (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                         (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                N(C.sub.4 H.sub.9).sub.                                                        4                           CH.sub.2 --    CH.sub.2 --    CH.sub.2 --    CH.sub.2 --                       (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                         (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                         (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                         (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                Benzyl-                     CH.sub.2 --    CH.sub.2 --    CH.sub.2 --    CH.sub.2 --                                                                          trimethyl-                                                                     ammonium                    (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                         (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                         (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                         (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                Benzyl-                     CH.sub.2--     CH.sub.2 --    CH.sub.2 --    CH.sub.2 --                                                                          triethyl                                                                       ammonium                    (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                         (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                         (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--                                                                         Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     110-116              CH.sub.2 --    CH.sub.2 --    CH.sub.2 --                                      Chloro-        Chloro-        Chloro-        Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     <230                 mesityl        mesityl        mesityl                                          Chloro-        Chloro-        Chloro-        Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     Harz                 mesityl        mesityl        mesityl                                          Dichloro-      Dichloro-      Dichloro-      Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     155-158              mesityl        mesityl        mesityl                                          m-Tolyl        m-Tolyl        m-Tolyl        Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     144-148              p-Tolyl        p-Tolyl        p-Tolyl        Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     161-188              Mesityl        Mesityl        o-Tolyl        Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     >230                 Mesityl        Mesityl        p-Dimethyl-    Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                         amino-phenyl                                     Mesityl        Mesityl        Mesityl        Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     >230                 2,6-Difluoro-  2,6-Difluoro-  2,6-Difluoro-  Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     >230                 phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           4-Chlorophenyl 4-Chlorophenyl 4-Chlorophenyl Hexyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     154-156              3-Trifluoro-   3-Trifluoro-   3-Trifluoro-   Hexyl NH.sub.4                    methylphenyl   methylphenyl   methylphenyl                                     3-Fluoro-      3-Fluoro-      3-Fluoro-      Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     117-119              phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           3-Fluoro-      3-Fluoro-      3-Fluoro-      Hexyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     113-120              phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           3-Fluoro-      3-Fluoro-      3-Fluoro-      Ethyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     156-160              phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           3-Fluoro-      3-Fluoro-      3-Fluoro-      Ethyl N(C.sub.4 H.sub.9).sub.                                                        4      78-79                phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           3-Fluoro-      3-Fluoro-      3-Fluoro-      Hexyl QTX    63-65                phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           3-Fluoro-      3-Fluoro-henyl 3-Fluoro-      Hexyl Cyanin <20                  phenyl                        phenyl                                           3,5-Difluoro-  3,5-Difluoro-  3,5-Difluoro-  Hexyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     87-88                phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           2-(Trifluoro-  2-(Trifluoro-  2-(Trifluoro-  Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     219-220              methyl)phenyl  methyl)phenyl  methyl)phenyl                                    2-(Trifluoro-  2-(Trifluoro-  2-(Trifluoro-  Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4           methyl)phenyl  methyl)phenyl  methyl)phenyl                                     ##STR12##                                                                                     ##STR13##                                                                                     ##STR14##     Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     220-222              4-Bromo-       4-Bromo-       4-Bromo-       Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4           phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           3-Chloro-      3-Chloro-      3-Chloro-      Hexyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     104-105              phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           4-Bromo-       4-Bromo-       4-Bromo-       Hexyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     156-159              phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                            ##STR15##                                                                                     ##STR16##                                                                                     ##STR17##     Butyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4           m-Fluoro-      m-Fluoro-      m-Fluoro-      Benzyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     223-227              phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           m-Fluoro-      m-Fluoro-      m-Fluoro-      Hexyl N(C.sub.4 H.sub.9).sub.                                                        4      78-80                phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           m-Fluoro-      m-Fluoro-      m-Fluoro-      Hexyl N(C.sub.10 H.sub.21).su                                                        b.4    <20                  phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           m-Fluoro-      m-Fluoro-      m-Fluoro-      Hexyl Iodonium                                                                              <20                  phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           m-Fluoro-      m-Fluoro-      m-Fluoro-      Hexyl Pyrylium                                                                              80-82                phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           m-Fluoro-      m-Fluoro-      m-Fluoro-      Hexyl Methylene                                                                             135-138              phenyl         phenyl         phenyl               cation                      m-Fluoro-      m-Fluoro-      m-Fluoro-      Hexyl Safranin O                  phenyl         phenyl         phenyl               cation                      m-Phenoxy-     m-Phenoxy-     m-Phenoxy-     Hexyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     <20                  phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           p-(Diisopropyl-                                                                               p-(Diisopropyl-                                                                               p-(Diisopropyl-                                                                               Hexyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     >230                 aminosulfonyl)-                                                                               aminosulfonyl)-                                                                               aminosulfonyl)-                                  phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           p-(2,6-di-t-   p-(2,6-di-t-   p-(2,6-di-t-   Hexyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     208-213              butyl-4-methyl-                                                                               butyl-4-methyl-                                                                               butyl-4-methyl-                                  phenoxy-       phenoxy-       phenoxy-                                         carbonyl)-     carbonyl)-     carbonyl)-                                       phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           p-(Diisopropyl-                                                                               p-(Diisopropyl-                                                                               p-(Diisopropyl-                                                                               Hexyl N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     >230                 aminocarbonyl)-                                                                               aminocarbonyl)-                                                                               aminocarbonyl)-                                  phenyl         phenyl         phenyl                                           Dichloro-      Dichloro-      Dichloro-      Methyl                                                                               N(CH.sub.3).sub.4                                                                     155-158              mesityl        mesityl        mesityl                                          __________________________________________________________________________      ##STR18##                                                                      -                                                                              ##STR19##      "Cyanine" is      ##STR20##      "Iodonium" is      ##STR21##      "Pyrylium" is      ##STR22##      "Safranine O" is      ##STR23##      "Triphenylsulfonium" is      ##STR24##      "Methylene Blue" cation is      ##STR25##

Examples for compounds of the formula IIa are

Methyl 4-[(phenyl)(methyl)sulfonio]phenyl dimesityl borate (compound of the formula IIa, in which R₄ and R₅ =mesityl, R₇ =methyl, R₈ =phenylene and E= ##STR26##

Methyl 1-trimethylammonionaphthyl dimesityl borate (compound of the formula IIa, in which R₄ and R₅ =mesityl, R₇ =methyl, R₈ =naphthylene and E=N(CH₃)₃); Methyl 1-benzyldimethylammonionaphthyl dimesityl borate (compound of formula IIa, in which R₄ and R₅ =mesityl, R₇ =methyl, R₈ =naphthylene and E=N(CH₃)₂ (CH₂ C₆ H₅));

Examples for the compounds according to formulae II and IIa as well as their preparation are disclosed in German Patent Applications No. 19648313.3, 19648282.8 and 19648256.9.

Further examples for compounds of the formulae II and IIa are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,176,984, 5,151,520, 5,100,755, 5,057,393, 5,100,755 4,954,414 and 4,772,530, EP-A-0 710 887, U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,453, U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,891, EP-A-0 109 772, EP-A-0 109 773, JP Kokai Hei 5-255347, JP Koai Hei 2-108055, U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,032, EP-A-0 726 497, JP Kokai Hei 4-146905, JP Kokai Hei 4-261405 and JP Kokai Hei 5-61247.

Specific examples for suitable borate anions are also triphenyl-s-butyl borate, triphenyl-neopentyl borate, triphenyl-hexyl borate, triphenyl-n-butyl borate, triphenyl-methyl borate, triphenyl-heptyl borate, triphenyl-ethyl borate, triphenyl-benzyl borate, tris(p-methoxyphenyl)-butyl borate, tris(p-tert-butylphenyl)-butyl borate, triphenyl-benzyl borate, triphenyl-(p-fluorobenzyl) borate, triphenyl-(p-methylbenzyl) borate, triphenyl-(o-methylbenzyl) borate, tris(p-fluorophenyl)-butyl borate, tris(p-methoxyphenyl)-butyl borate, tris(p-methoxyphenyl)-hexyl borate, tris(p-methoxyphenyl)-octyl borate, triphenyl-octyl borate, tributyl-(triphenylsilyl) borate, tributyl-(di-methyl-phenylsilyl) borate, diphenyl-octyl-(dibutyl-phenylsilyl) borate, dimethyl-phenyl-(trimethylsilyl) borate or diphenyl-butyl-(dimethyl-phenylsilyl) borate.

Other suitable borate compounds for the present photoinitiator systems either as electron donor (b) or as anion for the dye of the fomula I (in this case, without the defined cation G) are compounds of the formula III ##STR27## wherein n, m and o are each a number from 0 to 50, but are not simultaneously 0;

u and v are 0 or 1, and at least one of the indices u and v is 1;

R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂ and R₁₃ independently of one another are phenyl or another aromatic hydrocarbon, which radicals are unsubstituted or are substituted by unsubstituted or halo-, OR₂₃ - and /or NR₂₄ R₂₅ -substituted C₁ -C₆ alkyl, or are substituted by OR₂₃, S(O)_(p) R₂₃, OS(O)₂ R₂₃, NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)OR₂₃, C(O)NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)R₂₇, SiR₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉, BR₄₀ R₄₁, P(O)_(q) R₂₇ R₂₈, CN or halogen;

p is 0, 1 or 2;

q is 0 or 1;

R₁₄ is C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl, C₂ -C₈ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or naphthyl-C₁ -C₃ alkyl, the radicals C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl, C₂ -C₈ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or naphthyl being unsubstituted or substituted by OR₂₃, S(O)_(p) R₂₃, OS(O)₂ R₂₃, NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)OR₂₃, C(O)NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)R₂₇, ##STR28## SiR₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉, BR₄₀ R₄₁, CN or halogen, or R₁₄ is phenyl or another aromatic hydrocarbon radical, which radicals are unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, OR₂₃, S(O)_(p) R₂₃, OS(O)₂ R₂₃, NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)OR₂₃, C(O)NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)R₂₇, SiR₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉, BR₄₀ R₄₁, CN or halogen, at least one of the radicals R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂ and R₁₃ being a phenyl radical which is substituted ortho to the bond to the boron atom, or being another aromatic hydrocarbon radical which is sterically hindered ortho to the boron atom;

R₂₃, R₂₄, R₂₅, R₂₆, R₂₇, R₂₈, R₂₉ are as defined above for the formula II;

R₄₀ and R₄₁ independently of one another are as defined for R₂₃ or are C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or together with the B atom to which they are attached, form a 5- or 6-membered ring;

X₁ is C₁ -C₂₀ alkylene which is unsubstituted or substituted by OR₂₃, S(O)_(p) R₂₃, OS(O)₂ R₂₃, NR₂₄ R₂₅, O(O)OR₂₃, C(O)NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)R₂₇, SiR₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉, BR₄₀ R₄₁, CN, halogen or P(O)_(q) R₂₇ R₂₈,

or X₁ is C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkylene or C₂ -C₈ alkenylene, each of which is unsubstituted or substituted by OR₂₃, S(O)_(p) R₂₃, OS(O)₂ R₂₃ NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)OR₂₃, C(O)NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)R₂₇, SiR₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉, BR₄₀ R₄₁, CN or halogen, or where these radicals are interrupted by one or more groups --O--, --S(O)_(p) -- or --NR₂₆ --,

or X₁ is a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon radical which is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, OR₂₃, S(O)_(p) R₂₃, OS(O)₂ R₂₃, NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)OR₂₃, C(O)NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)R₂₇, SiR₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉, BR₄₀ R₄₁, CN, halogen,

or X₁ is C₁ -C₂₀ alkylene which is interrupted by one or more groups --O--, --S(O)_(p) -- or --NR₂₆ --,

or X₁ is a radical of the formula V or VI ##STR29## Y₁ is --(CH₂)_(x) --, --C(O)--, --NR₂₆ --, --O--, --S(O)_(p) --, --CR₄₂ R₄₃ --, --CH═CH--, ##STR30## x is 0, 1, 2 or 3; y is 2 or 3;

R₄₂ and R₄₃ are C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl, or R₄₂ and R₄₃, together with the C atom to which they are attached, form a 5- or 6-membered ring;

A and Q independently of one another are a direct bond, --(CH₂)_(x) --, --CH═CH--, --C(O)--, --NR₂₆ --, --S(O)_(p) --, --CR₄₂ R₄₃ --, ##STR31## or the radicals R₉, R₁₀, R₁₂, R₁₃ and X₁ form bridges to produce radicals of the formula (VII) or (VIII) ##STR32## A₁ is --(CH₂)_(t) --, --CH═CH--, --C(O)--, --NR₂₆ --, --O--, --S(O)_(p) --, --CR₄₂ R₄₃ --, ##STR33## or t is 0, 1 or 2;

the radicals of the formulae (V), (VI), (VII) and (VIII) being unsubstituted or being substituted on the aromatic rings by OR₂₃, S(O)_(p) R₂₃, OS(O)₂ R₂₃, NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)OR₂₃, C(O)NR₂₄ R₂₅,

C(O)R₂₇, SiR₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉, BR₄₀ R₄₁, CN or halogen and where additional phenyl rings may be fused to the phenyl rings of the formulae (V), (VI), (VII) and (VIII);

G is a radical which is able to form positive ions.

Examples of suitable compounds of the formula III are listed below. ##STR34## "Mes" is Mesityl, "Cl-Mes" is chloromesityl, "Bzl" is benzyl, "Ph" is phenyl, "QTX" and "cyanine" are as defined above.

Further examples for compounds of the formula III, as well as their preparation are disclosed in the European Patent Application No. 96810802.7.

The following explanations of definitions are applicable for all the corresponding definitions given in the whole application:

"Aromatic hydrocarbons" as may be present in the borate compounds may, for example, contain one or more, especially 1 or 2, heteroatoms. Examples of suitable heteroatoms are N, O, P or S, preferably N or O. Examples of aromatic hydrocarbon radicals are phenyl, α- and β-naphthyl, stilbenyl, biphenyl, o-, m-, p-terphenyl, triphenylphenyl, binaphthyl, anthracyl, phenanthryl, pyrenyl, furan-2-yl or furan-3-yl, thiophen-2-yl or thiophen-3-yl, pyridin-2-yl, pyridin-3-yl or pyridin-4-yl quinolyl or isoquinolyl.

If the radicals phenyl, stilbenyl, biphenyl, o-, m- or p-terphenyl, triphenylphenyl, naphthyl, binaphthyl, anthracyl, phenanthryl, pyrenyl, ferrocenyl, furanyl, thiophenyl, pyridinyl, quinolinyl or isoquinolinyl are substituted, they are so one to four times, for example one, two or three times, especially one or two times. Substituents on the phenyl ring are preferably in positions 2, or in 2,6 or 2,4,6 on the phenyl ring.

"C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl" is linear or branched and is, for example, C₁ -C₁₂, C₁ -C₈, C₁ -C₆ or C₁ -C₄ alkyl. Examples are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, 2,4,4-trimethylpentyl, 2-ethylhexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl or eicosyl.

C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl and C₁ -C₆ alkyl are likewise linear or branched and have, for example, the definitions indicated above up to the corresponding number of C atoms.

Where C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl is substituted one or more times by halogen, there are, for example, 1 to 3 or 1 or 2 halogen substituents on the alkyl radical.

"C₂ -C₂₀ alkyl which is interrupted one or more times by --O--, --S(O)_(p) -- or --NR₂₆ --" is, for example, interrupted 1-9 times, for example 1-7 times or 1 or 2 times, by --O--, --S(O)_(p) -- or --NR₂₆. This produces structural units such as, for example, --CH₂ O --CH₃, --CH₂ CH₂ --O--CH₂ CH₃, --[CH₂ CH₂ O]_(y) --CH₃, where y=1-9, --(CH₂ CH₂ O)₇ CH₂ CH₃, --CH₂ --CH(CH₃)--O--CH₂ --CH₂ CH₃, --CH₂ --CH(CH₃)--O--CH₂ --CH₃, --CH₂ SCH₃ or --CH₂ --N(CH₃)₂.

"C₃ -C₁₂ Cycloalkyl" is, for example, cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclooctyl, cyclo-dodecyl, especially cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl, preferably cyclohexyl.

"C₂ -C₈ alkenyl" radicals can be mono- or polyunsaturated and are, for example, allyl, methallyl, 1,1-dimethylallyl, 1-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 1,3-pentadienyl, 5-hexenyl or 7-octenyl, especially allyl.

"Phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl" is, for example, benzyl, phenylethyl, α-methylbenzyl, phenylpentyl, phenylhexyl or α,α-dimethylbenzyl, especially benzyl. Preference is given to phenyl-C₁ -C₄ alkyl, especially phenyl- C₁ -C₂ alkyl. Substituted phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl is substituted one to four times, for example once, twice or three times, especially once or twice, on the phenyl ring.

"Phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkylene" has two free bonds of which one is on the phenylene ring and the other in the alkylene radical.

"Substituted phenyl" is substituted one to five times, for example once, twice or three times, especially once or twice, on the phenyl ring.

"Naphthyl-C₁ -C₃ alkyl" is for example, naphthylmethyl, naphthylethyl, naphthylpropyl or naphthyl-1-methylethyl, especially naphthylmethyl. The alkyl unit can be in either position 1 or position 2 of the naphthyl ring system. Substituted naphthyl-C₁ -C₃ alkyl is substituted one to four times, for example once, twice or three times, especially once or twice, on the aromatic rings.

"C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy" denotes linear or branched radicals and is, and is, for example, C₁ -C₈, C₁ -C₆ or C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, Examples are methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butyloxy, sec-butyloxy, iso-butyloxy, tert-butyloxy, pentyloxy, hexyloxy, heptyloxy, 2,4,4-trimethylpentyloxy, 2-ethylhexyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy or dodecyloxy, especially methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butyloxy, sec-butyloxy, iso-butyloxy, tert-butyloxy, preferably methoxy.

C₁ -C₈ alkoxy and C₁ -C₆ alkoxy have the same meanings as given for C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy, up to the corresponding number of C-atoms.

"Halogen" is fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine, especially fluorine, chlorine and bromine, preferably fluorine and chlorine.

Where R₂₄ and R₂₅, together with the N atom to which they are attached, form a 5- or 6-membered ring which may additionally contain O or S atoms, then the rings involved are, for example, saturated or unsaturated rings, for example aziridine, pyrrol, pyrrolidine, oxazole, thiazole, pyridine, 1,3-diazine, 1,2-diazine, piperidine or morpholine.

"G" in formula II or IIa, as well as in formula III is a metal from group I of the Periodic Table in the first oxidation state, especially Na⁺, K⁺ or Li⁺, or G is MgZ₁ ⁺ or CaZ₁ ⁺ in which Z₁ is a halogen or C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, or G is an ammonium ion, sulfonium ion or phosphonium ion or, for example, a dye cation.

Radicals generally suitable as a counterion "G⁺ " to the negative borate in the formulae II, IIa and III are those which are able to form positive ions.

Examples of these are alkali metals, especially lithium or sodium, quaternary ammonium compounds, for example tetra(C₁ -C₄ alkyl)ammonium cations, dye cations or cationic transition metal coordination complex compounds. Especially preferred are ammonium, tetraalkylammonium or dye cations. Examples of tetraalkylammonium are, in particular, tetramethylammonium or tetrabutylammonium, although trisalkylammonium ions, for example trimethylammonium, are also suitable. Suitable phosphonium and ammonium counterions are those of the formulae ⁺ PR_(w) R_(x) R_(y) R_(z) and ⁺ NR_(w) R_(x) R_(y) R_(z), where R_(w), R_(x), R_(y), R_(z) independently of one another are hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, phenyl or arylalkyl. Substituents for these alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, phenyl or arylalkyl radicals are, for example, halide, hydroxyl, heterocycloalkyl (e.g. epoxy, aziridyl, oxetanyl, furanyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolyl, thiophenyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, etc.), dialkylamino, amino, carboxyl, alkyl- and arylcarbonyl and aryloxy- and alkoxycarbonyl.

The tetravalent nitrogen may also be part of a 5- or 6-membered ring, in which case this ring may in turn be fused to other ring systems. These systems may also contain additional heteroatoms, for example S, N, O.

For example the O-alkylated aromatic-heterocycle amine oxide cation, preferably the one of the formula I, is of the above decribed kind.

The tetravalent nitrogen may also be part of a polycyclic ring system, for example azoniapropellane. These systems may also contain further heteroatoms, for example S, N, O. The term "tetra(C₁ -C₄ alkyl)ammonium" refers to compounds of the following formula: N(C₁ -C₄ alkyl)⁺ ₄, where C₁ -C₄ alkyl can have the definitions given above up to the corresponding number of C atoms. Examples of appropriate ammonium compounds are tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, tetrapropylammonium or tetrabutylammonium, especially tetramethylammonium and tetrabutylammonium. Benzyltri(C₁ -C₄ alkyl)ammonium is C₆ H₅ --CH₂ --N(C₁ -C₄ alkyl)₃ ⁺, where C₁ -C₄ alkyl can have the definitions given above up to the corresponding number of C atoms. Examples of such radicals are benzyltrimethylammonium, benzyltriethylammonium, benzyltripropylammonium and benzylbutylammonium, especially benzyltrimethylammonium and benzyltributylammonium.

Also suitable are polyammonium salts and polyphosphonium salts, especially the bis salts, in which it is possible for the same substituents to be present as described above for the "mono" compounds.

The ammonium salts and phosphonium salts may also be substituted by neutral dyes (e.g. thioxanthenenes, thioxanthones, coumarins, ketocoumarins, etc.). Such salts are obtained by the reaction of the ammonium salts and phosphonium salts, substituted by reactive groups (e.g. epoxy, amino, hydroxyl, etc.), with appropriate derivatives of neutral dyes. Corresponding examples are described in EP-A 224 967 (Quantacure QTX).

Similarly, ammonium salts and phosphonium salts can also be substituted by colourless electron acceptors (e.g. benzophenones); examples of these are Quantacure ABQ ##STR35## Quantacure BPQ ##STR36## and Quantacure BTC ##STR37## from International Bio-Synthetics.

Other quaternary ammonium compounds which are of interest are, for example, trimethylcetylammonium or cetylpyridinium compounds.

Other examples to be used as positive counterions G⁺ in the compound of the formual I include the following: ##STR38## in which Z is P, N or S and R" is an alkyl or aryl radical. Also suitable are compounds such as ##STR39## (described by Yagci et al. in J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polymer Chem. 1992, 30, 1987 and Polymer 1993, 34(6), 1130) or compounds such as ##STR40## where R'=unsubstituted or substituted benzyl or phenacyl (described in JP-A Hei 7 70221). In these compounds, the aromatic rings in the pyridinium may also be substituted.

Other positive counterions G⁺ to the borate which can be employed are other onium ions, for example iodonium or sulfonium ions.

Examples of such counterions to the borate are radicals of the formula ##STR41## as described, for example, in EP-A 555 058 and EP-A 690 074. Also of interest as counterions are ##STR42## Further suitable counterions for the novel borates are cations of the formula ##STR43## in which R₉ is an alkyl radical, especially ethyl, or benzyl, and where the aromatic ring can carry further substituents.

Other suitable counterions are halonium ions, especially diaryliodonium ions, as described for example in EP-A 334 056 and EP-A 562 897.

However, cations of ferrocenium salts are also suitable, as described, for example, in EP-A-0 094 915 and EP-A-0 109 851, for example ##STR44##

Other suitable "onium" cations, such as ammonium, phosphonium, sulfonium, iodonium, selonium, arsonium, tellonium and bismuthonium, are described, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Hei 6 266102.

Examples of cationic transition metal complex compounds which are suitable as counterions are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,414. Of particular interest are bis(2,2'-bipyridine)(4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium, tris(4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium, tris(4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine)iron, tris(2,2',2"-terpyridine)ruthenium, tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium and bis(2,2'-bipyridine)(5-chloro-1,10-phenanthroline)ruthenium.

Dyes suitable as a counterion are for example cations of triarylmethanes, for example malachite green, indolines, thiazines, for example methylene blue, xanthones, thioxanthones, oxazines, acridines, cyanines, rhodamines, phenazines, for example safranine, preferably cyanines, thioxanthones and safranine. Preferred as a dye counterion is the dye according to formula I.

This invention provides further a process of producing a polyolefin (as hereinafter defined) by polymerising one or more olefins (as hereinafter defined) under the influence of the free radicals resulting from photolysis of at least one of the photoinitiators or photoinitiator systems according to the present invention. Preferably such polymerisation is effected in conditions such that the cation and anion suffer decomposition to compounds not absorptive of visible light or of light used in the photopolymerisation. Such polymerisation may be applied to such olefins in volume elements of substantial depth, for example involving a light path of up to 50 mm or more.

If desired, the composition may contain two or more oxide salts with various electron acceptors or a mixture with one or more other photoinitiator materials.

In accordance with the invention the above described photoinitiator systems can be used as photoinitiators for the photopolymerization of ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable compounds and mixtures comprising such compounds.

This use can also be implemented in combination with another photoinitiator (C) and/or other additives.

The invention therefore also relates to photopolymerizable compositions comprising

(A) at least one ethylenically unsaturated photopolymerizable compound and

(B) at least one photoinitiator system as described above.

The composition may comprise additionally to the components (A) and (B) at least one further photoinitiator (C), and/or further coinitiators (D) and/or other additives.

The unsaturated compounds may include one or more olefinic double bonds. They may be of low (monomeric) or high (oligomeric) molecular mass. Examples of monomers containing a double bond are alkyl or hydroxyalkyl acrylates or methacrylates, for example methyl, ethyl, butyl, 2-ethylhexyl or 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, isobornyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate or ethyl methacrylate. Silicone acrylates are also advantageous. Other examples are acrylonitrile, acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-substituted (meth)acrylamides, vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate, vinyl ethers such as isobutyl vinyl ether, styrene, alkyl- and halostyrenes, N-vinylpyrrolidone, vinyl chloride or vinylidene chloride.

Examples of monomers containing two or more double bonds are the diacrylates of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, hexamethylene glycol or of bisphenol A, and 4,4'-bis(2-acryl-oyloxyethoxy)diphenylpropane, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate or tetraacrylate, vinyl acrylate, divinylbenzene, divinyl succinate, diallyl phthalate, triallyl phosphate, triallyl isocyanurate or tris(2-acryloylethyl) isocyanurate.

Examples of polyunsaturated compounds of relatively high molecular mass (oligomers) are acrylisized epoxy resins, acrylisized polyesters, polyesters containing vinyl ether or epoxy groups, and also polyurethanes and polyethers. Further examples of unsaturated oligomers are unsaturated polyester resins, which are usually prepared from maleic acid, phthalic acid and one or more diols and have molecular weights of from about 500 to 3000. In addition it is also possible to employ vinyl ether monomers and oligomers, and also maleate-terminated oligomers with polyester, polyurethane, polyether, polyvinyl ether and epoxy main chains. Of particular suitability are combinations of oligomers which carry vinyl ether groups and of polymers as described in WO 90/01512. However, copolymers of vinyl ether and maleic acid-functionalized monomers are also suitable. Unsaturated oligomers of this kind can also be referred to as prepolymers.

Particularly suitable examples are esters of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids and polyols or polyepoxides, and polymers having ethylenically unsaturated groups in the chain or in side groups, for example unsaturated polyesters, polyamides and polyurethanes and copolymers thereof, alkyd resins, polybutadiene and butadiene copolymers, polyisoprene and isoprene copolymers, polymers and copolymers containing (meth)acrylic groups in side chains, and also mixtures of one or more such polymers.

Examples of unsaturated carboxylic acids are acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, itaconic acid, cinnamic acid, and unsaturated fatty acids such as linolenic acid or oleic acid. Acrylic and methacrylic acid are preferred.

Suitable polyols are aromatic and, in particular, aliphatic and cycloaliphatic polyols. Examples of aromatic polyols are hydroquinone, 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl, 2,2-di(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, and also novolaks and resols. Examples of polyepoxides are those based on the abovementioned polyols, especially the aromatic polyols, and epichlorohydrin. Other suitable polyols are polymers and copolymers containing hydroxyl groups in the polymer chain or in side groups, examples being polyvinyl alcohol and copolymers thereof or polyhydroxyalkyl methacrylates or copolymers thereof. Further polyols which are suitable are oligoesters having hydroxyl end groups.

Examples of aliphatic and cycloaliphatic polyols are alkylenediols having preferably 2 to 12 C atoms, such as ethylene glycol, 1,2- or 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-, 1,3- or 1,4-butanediol, pentanediol, hexanediol, octanediol, dodecanediol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glcyol, polyethylene glycols having molecular weights of preferably from 200 to 1500, 1,3-cyclopentanediol, 1,2-, 1,3- or 1,4-cyclohexanediol, 1,4-dihydroxymethylcyclohexane, glycerol, tris(β-hydroxyethyl)amine, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol and sorbitol.

The polyols may be partially or completely esterified with one carboxylic acid or with different unsaturated carboxylic acids, and in partial esters the free hydroxyl groups may be modified, for example etherified or esterified with other carboxylic acids.

Examples of esters are:

trimethylolpropane triacrylate, trimethylolethane triacrylate, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, trimethylolethane trimethacrylate, tetramethylene glycol dimethacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, tetraethylene glycol diacrylate, pentaerythritol diacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, dipentaerythritol diacrylate, dipentaerythritol triacrylate, dipentaerythritol tetraacrylate, dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, tripentaerythritol octaacrylate, pentaerythritol dimethacrylate, pentaerythritol trimethacrylate, dipentaerythritol dimethacrylate, dipentaerythritol tetramethacrylate, tripentaerythritol octamethacrylate, pentaerythritol diitaconate, dipentaerythritol trisitaconate, dipentaerythritol pentaitaconate, dipentaerythritol hexaitaconate, ethylene glycol diacrylate, 1,3-butanediol diacrylate, 1,3-butanediol dimethacrylate, 1,4-butanediol diitaconate, sorbitol triacrylate, sorbitol tetraacrylate, pentaerythritol-modified triacrylate, sorbitol tetra methacrylate, sorbitol pentaacrylate, sorbitol hexaacrylate, oligoester acrylates and methacrylates, glycerol diacrylate and triacrylate, 1,4-cyclohexane diacrylate, bis-acrylates and bismethacrylates of polyethylene glycol with a molecular weight of from 200 to 1500, or mixtures thereof.

Also suitable as components (A) are the amides of identical or different, unsaturated carboxylic acids with aromatic, cycloaliphatic and aliphatic polyamines having preferably 2 to 6, especially 2 to 4, amino groups. Examples of such polyamines are ethylenediamine, 1,2- or 1,3-propylenediamine, 1,2-, 1,3- or 1,4-butylenediamine, 1,5-pentylenediamine, 1,6-hexylenediamine, octylenediamine, dodecylenediamine, 1,4-diaminocyclohexane, isophoronediamine, phenylenediamine, bisphenylenediamine, di-β-aminoethyl ether, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, di(β-aminoethoxy)- or di(β-aminopropoxy)ethane. Other suitable polyamines are polymers and copolymers, preferably with additional amino groups in the side chain, and oligoamides having amino end groups. Examples of such unsaturated amides are methylenebisacrylamide, 1,6-hexamethylenebisacrylamide, diethylenetriaminetrismethacrylamide, bis(methacrylamidopropoxy)ethane, β-methacrylamidoethyl methacrylate and N[(β-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl]acrylamide.

Suitable unsaturated polyesters and polyamides are derived, for example, from maleic acid and from diols or diamines. Some of the maleic acid can be replaced by other dicarboxylic acids. They can be used together with ethylenically unsaturated comonomers, for example styrene. The polyesters and polyamides may also be derived from dicarboxylic acids and from ethylenically unsaturated diols or diamines, especially from those with relatively long chains of, for example 6 to 20 C atoms. Examples of polyurethanes are those composed of saturated or unsaturated diisocyanates and of unsaturated or, respectively, saturated diols.

Polybutadiene and polyisoprene and copolymers thereof are known. Examples of suitable comonomers are olefins, such as ethylene, propene, butene and hexene, (meth)acrylates, acrylonitrile, styrene or vinyl chloride. Polymers with (meth)acrylate groups in the side chain are likewise known. They may, for example, be reaction products of epoxy resins based on novolaks with (meth)acrylic acid, or may be homo- or copolymers of vinyl alcohol or hydroxyalkyl derivatives thereof which are esterified with (meth)acrylic acid, or may be homo- and copolymers of (meth)acrylates which are esterified with hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylates.

The photopolymerizable compounds can be used alone or in any desired mixtures. It is preferred to use mixtures of polyol (meth)acrylates.

Binders as well can be added to these novel compositions, and this is particularly expedient when the photopolymerizable compounds are liquid or viscous substances. The quantity of binder may, for example, be 5-95%, preferably 10-90% and especially 40-90%, by weight relative to the overall solids content. The choice of binder is made depending on the field of application and on properties required for this field, such as the capacity for development in aqueous and organic solvent systems, adhesion to substrates and sensitivity to oxygen.

Examples of suitable binders are polymers having a molecular weight of about 5000 to 2000000, preferably 10000 to 100000. Examples are: homo- and copolymers of acrylates and methacrylates, for example copolymers of methyl methacrylate/ethyl acrylate/methacrylic acid, poly(alkyl methacrylates), poly(alkyl acrylates); cellulose esters and cellulose ethers, such as cellulose acetate, cellulose acetobutyrate, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose; polyvinylbutyral, polyvinylformal, cyclized rubber, polyethers such as polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide and polytetrahydrofuran; polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyurethane, chlorinated polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride/vinylidene copolymers, copolymers of vinylidene chloride with acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate and vinyl acetate, polyvinyl acetate, copoly(ethylene/vinyl acetate), polymers such as polycaprolactam and poly(hexamethylenadipamide), and polyesters such as poly(ethylene glycol terephtalate) and poly(hexamethylene glycol succinate).

The unsaturated compounds can also be used as a mixture with non-photopolymerizable, film-forming components. These may, for example, be physically drying polymers or solutions thereof in organic solvents, for instance nitrocellulose or cellulose acetobutyrate. They may also, however, be chemically and/or thermally curable (heat-curable) resins, examples being polyisocyanates, polyepoxides and melamine resins. The use of heat-curable resins at the same time is important for use in systems known as hybrid systems, which in a first stage are photopolymerized and in a second stage are crosslinked by means of thermal aftertreatment.

It is also possible to add further coinitiators or electron acceptors (D) to the polymerizable composition according to the present invention, for example a neutral, cationic or anionic dye or a UV absorber.

Examples of suitable dyes which can be added as coinitiators are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,520. They are, for example, triarylmethanes, for example malachite green, indolines, thiazines, for example methylene blue, xanthones, thioxanthones, oxazine, acridine or phenazines, for example safranin.

The above-described transition metal complex compounds or onium ion compounds can also be used as coinitiator.

Cationic, neutral or anionic dyes can be employed as coinitiators for the novel compounds. Particularly suitable cationic dyes are malachite green, methylene blue, safranin O, rhodamines of the formula ##STR45## in which R_(a) and R_(b) are alkyl radicals or aryl radicals, for example rhodamine B, rhodamine 6G or violamine R, and also sulforhodamine B or sulforhodamine G.

Other suitable dyes are fluorones, as described for example by Neckers et al. in J. Polym. Sci., Part A, Poly. Chem, 1995,33,1691-1703. ##STR46## is particularly advantageous.

Examples of further suitable dyes are cyanines of the formula ##STR47## in which R_(c) =alkyl; nx=0,1,2,3 or 4 and Y₁₀ =CH═CH, N--CH₃, C(CH₃)₂, O, S or Se. Preferred cyanines are those in which Y₁₀ in the above formula is C(CH₃)₂ or S.

The following dye compounds are also suitable as coinitiators: ##STR48## in which Z is P, N or S and R" is an alkyl or aryl radical. Preferred compounds of the above formulae are those in which ZR"₃ is N(CH₃)₃, N(C₂ H₅)₃ or P(C₆ H₅)₃. Also suitable are compounds such as ##STR49## (described by Yagci et al. in J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polymer Chem. 1992, 30, 1987 and Polymer 1993, 34(6), 1130) or compounds such as ##STR50## where R'=unsubstituted or substituted benzyl or phenacyl (described in JP-A Hei 7 70221). In these compounds, the aromatic rings in the pyridinium may also be substituted.

Other suitable dyes can be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,604. These are azulene dyes. Of particular advantage as coinitiators are the compounds 1-18 listed in columns 10 and 11 of the above named U.S. patent, in the Table.

Examples of further suitable dyes are merocyanine dyes, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,581 from column 6, line 20 to column 9, line 57.

As coinitiators it is also possible to use coumarin compounds. Examples of these are given in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,581 in column 11, line 20 to column 12, line 42.

Further suitable coinitiators are xanthones or thioxanthones as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,581, column 12, line 44 to column 13, line 15.

Further suitable dyes are such bearing more than one positive or negative charge. Examples for dyes bearing more than one positive charge are disclosed in JP Kokai Hei 04-146905.

Anionic dye compounds can also be employed as coinitiators. For instance, Rose Bengal, eosine or fluorescein are also suitable as coinitiators. Other suitable dyes, for example from the triarylmethane class or azo class, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,818.

Examples of UV absorbers which are suitable as coinitiator are thioxanthone derivatives, coumarins, benzophenone, benzophenone derivatives or derivatives of hexaarylbisimidazole. Examples of suitable hexaarylbisimidazole derivatives are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,784,557, 4,252,887, 4,311,783, 4,459,349, 4,410,621 and 4,622,286. Of particular advantage are 2-o-chlorophenyl-substituted derivatives, such as 2,2'-bis(o-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl-1,1'-bisimidazole. Other UV absorbers suitable in this context are, for example, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, for example anthracene or pyrene, and the triazines described in EP-A-137 452, in DE-A-27 18 254 and in DE-A-22 43 621. Further suitable triazines can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,581, column 14, line 60 to column 18, line 44. Of particular advantage are trihalomethyltriazines, for example 2,4-bis(trichloromethyl)-6-(4-styrylphenyl)-s-triazine.

Other suitable coinitiators or electron acceptors are benzoteridinediones (described in JP Hei 02 113002), substituted benzophenones (e.g. Michler's Ketone, Quantacure ABQ, Quantacure BPQ and Quantacure BTC from International Biosynthetics), trichloromethyltriazine (described in JP Hei 01 033548), metal complexes (described in JP Hei 04 261405), porphyrins (described in JP Hei 06 202548 and JP Hei 06 195014), coumarins and ketocoumarins (described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,581 and JP Hei 06 175557), p-aminophenyl compounds (described in EP-A 475153), xanthenes (described in JP Hei 06 175566) or pyrylium, thiopyrylium and selenopyrylium dyes (described in JP Hei 06 175563). Also suitable as coinitiators and electron acceptors are readily reducible compounds. The term readily reducible compound refers in this context also to compounds described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,581, including for example iodonium salts, sulfonium salts, organic peroxides, compounds containing carbon halide bonds (trichloromethyltriazines, heterocyclic sulfur compounds and other photoinitiators (α-amino ketones). Examples of other additives are heterocycles as described in the patents and patent applications U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,032, JP 02 244050, JP 02 054268, JP 01.017048 and DE 38330.8. Examples of further additives are aromatic imines described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,126, and aromatic diazo compounds described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,200,292 (e.g. iminoquinone diazides), thiols, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,159 and thiols and N,N-dialkylaniline described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,685. It is also possible to employ two or more of the abovementioned coinitiators or electron acceptors and additives in combination.

The invention also provides a composition, wherein the further coinitiator (D) is a dye, which changes or looses colour during or after the irradiation.

A preferred composition comprises as additional photoinitiator (C) an α-amino ketone together with an onium compound.

In addition to the photoinitiator the photopolymerizable mixtures may include various additives. Examples of these are thermal inhibitors, which are intended to prevent premature polymerization, examples being hydroquinone, hydroquinine derivatives, p-methoxyphenol, β-naphthol or sterically hindered phenols, such as 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol. In order to increase the stability on storage in the dark it is possible, for example, to use copper compounds, such as copper naphthenate, stearate or octoate, phosphorus compounds, for example triphenylphosphine, tributylphosphine, triethyl phosphite, triphenyl phosphite or tribenzyl phosphite, quaternary ammonium compounds, for example tetramethylammonium chloride or trimethylbenzylammonium chloride, or hydroxylamine derivatives, for example N-diethylhydroxylamine. To exclude atmospheric oxygen during the polymerization it is possible to add paraffin or similar wax-like substances which, being of inadequate solubility in the polymer, migrate to the surface in the beginning of polymerization and form a transparent surface layer which prevents the ingress of air. It is also possible to apply an oxygen-impermeable layer. Light stabilizers which can be added in a small quantity are UV absorbers, for example those of the hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole, hydroxyphenyl-benzophenone, oxalamide or hydroxyphenyl-s-triazine type. These compounds can be used individually or in mixtures, with or without sterically hindered amines (HALS).

Examples of such UV absorbers and light stabilizers are

1.2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzotriazoles for example 2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-methylphenyl)benzotriazole, 2-(3',5'-di-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzotriazole, 2-(5'-tert-butyl-2'-hydro-xyphenyl)benzotriazole, 2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenyl)benzotriazole, 2-(3',5'-di-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole, 2-(3'-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxy-5'-methylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole, 2-(3'-sec-butyl-5'-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzotrizole, 2-(2'-hydroxy-4'-octoxyphenyl)benzotriazole, 2-(3',5'-di-tert-amyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzotriazole, 2-(3',5'-bis-(α,α-dimethylbenzyl)-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-benzotriazole, mixture of 2-(3'-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxy-5'-(2-octyloxycarbonylethyl)phenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole, 2-(3'-tert-butyl-5'-[2-(2-ethyl-hexyl-oxy)carbonylethyl]-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole, 2-(3'-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxy-5'-(2-methoxycarbonylethyl)phenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole, 2-(3'-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxy-5'-(2-methoxycarbonylethyl)phenyl)- benzotriazole, 2-(3'-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxy-5'-(2-octyloxycarbonylethyl)phenyl)benzotriazole, 2-(3'-tert-butyl-5'-[2-(2-ethylhexyloxy)carbonylethyl]-2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzotriazole, 2-(3'-dodecyl-2'-hydroxy-5'-methylphenyl)-benzotriazole, and 2-(3'-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxy-5'-(2-isooctyloxycarbonylethyl)phenylbenzotriazole, 2,2'-methylenebis[4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-6-benzotriazol-2-yl-phenol]; transesterification product of 2-[3'-tert-butyl-5'-(2-methoxycarbonylethyl)-2'-hydroxy-phenyl]-benzotriazole with polyethylene glycol 300; [R--CH₂ CH₂ --COO(CH₂)₃ ]₂ -- where R=3'-tert-butyl-4'-hydroxy-5'-2H-benzotriazol-2-yl-phenyl.

2. 2-Hydroxybenzophenones, for example the 4-hydroxy-4-methoxy-, 4-octoxy-, 4-decyloxy, 4-dodecyloxy-, 4-benzyloxy-, 4,2',4'-trihydroxy- and 2'-hydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxy derivative.

3. Esters of substituted or unsubstituted benzoicacids, for example 4-tert-butylphenyl salicylate, phenyl salicylate, octylphenyl salicylate, dibenzoylresorcinol, bis(4-tert-butylbenzoyl)resorcinol, benzoylresorcinol, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoate, hexadecyl 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoate, octadecyl 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoate, and 2-methyl-4,6-di-tert-butylphenyl 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoate.

4. Acrylates, for example isooctyl or ethyl α-cyano-β,β-diphenyl acrylate, methyl α-carbomethoxycinnamate, butyl or methyl α-cyano-β-methyl-p-methoxycinnamate, methyl α-carboxymethoxy-p-methoxycinnamate and N-(β-carbomethoxy-β-cyanovinyl)-2-methylindoline.

5. Sterically hindered amines, for example bis-(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidyl) sebacate, bis-(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidyl) succinate, bis-(1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidyl) sebacate, bis-(1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidyl) n-butyl-3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylmalonate, condensation product of 1-hydroxyethyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-hydroxypiperidine and succinic acid, condensation product of N,N'-bis-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)hexa-methylenediamine and 4-tert-octylamino-2,6-dichloro-1,3,5-s-triazine, tris-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) nitrilotriacetate, tetrakis-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)-1,2,3,4-butane tetraoate, 1,1'-(1,2-ethandiyl)bis(3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-piperazinone), 4-benzoyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine, 4-stearyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine, bis-(1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidyl) 2-n-butyl-2-(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl) malonate, 3-n-octyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-1,3,8-triazaspiro-[4.5]decane-2,4-dione, bis-(1-octyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidyl) sebacate, bis-(1-octyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidyl) succinate, condensation product of N,N'-bis-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)hexamethylenediamine and 4-morpholino-2,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazine, condensation product of 2-chloro-4,6-di-(4-n-butylamino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidyl)-1,3,5-triazine and 1,2-bis-(3-aminopropylamino)ethane, condensation product of 2-chloro-4,6-di-(4-n-butylamino-1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidyl)-1,3,5-triazine and 1,2-bis-(3-aminopropylamino)ethane, 8-acetyl-3-dodecyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-1,3,8-triazaspiro[4.5]decane-2,4-dione, 3-dodecyl-1-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione and 3-dodecyl-1-(1,2,2,6,6-penta-methyl-4-piperidyl)-pyrrolidine-2,5-dione.

6. Oxalamides, for example 4,4'-dioctyloxyoxanilide, 2,2'-diethoxyoxanilide, 2,2'-dioctyloxy-5,5'-di-tert-butyloxanilide, 2,2'-didodecyloxy-5,5'di-tert-butyloxanilide, 2-ethoxy-2'-ethyl-oxanilide, N,N'-bis-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)oxalamide, 2-ethoxy-5-tert-butyl-2'-ethyloxanilide and its mixture with 2-ethoxy-2'-ethyl-5,4'-di-tert-butyloxanilide, mixtures of o- and p-methoxy- and of o- and p-ethoxy-disubstituted oxanalides.

7. 2-(2-Hydroxyphenyl)-1,3,5-triazines, for example 2,4,6-tris(2-hydroxy-4-octyloxyphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine, 2-(2-hydroxy-4-octyloxyphenyl)-4,6-bis-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine, 2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine, 2,4-bis(2-hydroxy-4-propyloxy-phenyl)-6-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine, 2-(2-hydroxy-4-octyloxyphenyl)-4,6-bis(4-methylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine, 2-(2-hydroxy-4-dodecyloxyphenyl)-4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine, 2-[2-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxy-3-butyloxy-propyloxy)phenyl]-4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine, 2-[2-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxy-3-octyloxy-propyloxy)phenyl]-4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine, 2-[4-dodecyl/tridecyl-oxy-(2-hydroxypropyl)oxy-2-hydroxy-phenyl]-4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine.

8. Phosphites and phosphonites, for example triphenyl phosphite, diphenyl alkyl phosphites, phenyl dialkyl phosphites, tris(nonylphenyl) phosphite, trilauryl phosphite, trioctadecyl phosphite, distearyl pentaerythrityl diphosphite, tris-(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite, diisodecyl pentaerythrityl diphosphite, bis-(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) pentaerythrityl diphosphite, bis-(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenyl) pentaerythrityl diphosphite, bis-isodecyloxy pentaerythrityl diphosphite, bis-(2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-methylphenyl) pentaerythrityl diphosphite, bis-(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl) pentaerythrityl diphosphite, tristearyl sorbityl triphosphite, tetrakis-(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)-4,4'-biphenylene diphosphonite, 6-isooctyloxy-2,4,8,10-tetra-tert-butyl-12H-dibenzo-[d,g]-1,3,2-dioxaphosphocine, 6-fluoro-2,4,8,10-tetra-tert-butyl-12-methyl-dibenzo-[d,g]-1,3,2-dioxaphosphocine, bis-(2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-methylphenyl) methyl phosphite and bis(2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-methylphenyl) ethyl phosphite.

To accelerate the photopolymerization it is possible to add amines, for example triethanolamine, N-methyldiethanolamine, p-dimethylaminobenzoate or Michler's ketone. The action of the amines can be intensified by the addition of aromatic ketones of the benzophenone type. Examples of amines which can be used as oxygen scavengers are substituted N,N-dialkylanilines, as are described in EP-A-339 841. Other accelerators, coinitiators and autoxidizers are thiols, thioethers, disulfides, phosphonium salts, phosphine oxides or phosphines, as described, for example, in EP-A-438 123, in GB-A-2 180 358 and in JP-A Hei 6 268309.

Photopolymerization can also be accelerated by adding further photosentisizers which shift or broaden the spectral sensitivity. These are, in particular, aromatic carbonyl compounds, for example benzophenone, thioxanthone, anthraquinone and 3-acylcoumarin derivatives, and also 3-(aroylmethylene)thiazolines, but also eosine, rhodamine and erythrosine dyes.

The curing process can be assisted by, in particular, compositions which are pigmented (for example with titanium dioxide), and also by adding a component which under thermal conditions forms free radicals, for example an azo compound such as 2,2'-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), a triazene, diazo sulfide, pentazadiene or a peroxy compound, for instance a hydroperoxide or peroxycarbonate, for example t-butyl hydroperoxide, as described for example in EP-A-245 639.

Further customary additives, depending on the intended use, are optical brighteners, fillers, pigments, dyes, wetting agents or levelling assistants.

In order to cure thick and pigmented coatings it is appropriate to add glass microspheres or pulverized glass fibres, as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,768.

The invention also provides compositions comprising as component (a) at least one ethylenically unsaturated photopolymerizable compound which is emulsified or dissolved in water.

Many variants of such radiation-curable aqueous prepolymer dispersions are commercially available. A prepolymer dispersion is understood as being a dispersion of water and at least one prepolymer dispersed therein. The concentration of water in these systems is, for example, from 5 to 80% by weight, in particular from 30 to 60% by weight. The concentration of the radiation-curable prepolymer or prepolymer mixture is, for example, from 95 to 20% by weight, in particular from 70 to 40% by weight. In these compositions the sum of the percentages given for water and prepolymer is in each case 100, with auxiliaries and additives being added in varying quantities depending on the intended use.

The radiation-curable, film-forming prepolymers which are dispersed in water and are often also dissolved are aqueous prepolymer dispersions of mono- or polyfunctional, ethylenically unsaturated prepolymers which are known per se, can be initiated by free radicals and have for example a content of from 0.01 to 1.0 mol of polymerizable double bonds per 100 g of prepolymer and an average molecular weight of, for example, at least 400, in particular from 500 to 10 000. Prepolymers with higher molecular weights, however, may also be considered depending on the intended application. Use is made, for example, of polyesters containing polymerizable C--C double bonds and having an acid number of not more than 10, of polyethers containing polymerizable C--C double bonds, of hydroxyl-containing reaction products of a polyepoxide, containing at least two epoxide groups per molecule, with at least one α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, of polyurethane (meth)acrylates and of acrylic copolymers which contain α,β-ethylenically unsaturated acrylic radicals, as are described in EP-A-12 339. Mixtures of these prepolymers can likewise be used. Also suitable are the polymerizable prepolymers described in EP-A-33 896, which are thioether adducts of polymerizable prepolymers having an average molecular weight of at least 600, a carboxyl group content of from 0.2 to 15% and a content of from 0.01 to 0.8 mol of polymerizable C--C double bonds per 100 g of prepolymer. Other suitable aqueous dispersions, based on specific alkyl (meth)acrylate polymers, are described in EP-A-41 125, and suitable water-dispersible, radiation-curable prepolymers of urethane acrylates can be found in DE-A-29 36 039.

Further additives which may be included in these radiation-curable aqueous prepolymer dispersions are dispersion auxiliaries, emulsifiers, antioxidants, light stabilizers, dyes, pigments, fillers, for example talc, gypsum, silicic acid, rutile, carbon black, zinc oxide, iron oxides, reaction accelerators, levelling agents, lubricants, wetting agents, thickeners, flatting agents, antifoams and other auxiliaries customary in paint technology. Suitable dispersion auxiliaries are water-soluble organic compounds which are of high molecular mass and contain polar groups, examples being polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinylpyrrolidone or cellulose ethers. Emulsifiers which can be used are nonionic emulsifiers and, if desired, ionic emulsifiers as well.

In certain cases it may be of advantage to use mixtures of two or more of the novel photoinitiator systems. It is of course also possible to use mixtures with known photoinitiators, for example mixtures with benzophenone, acetophenone derivatives, for example α-hydroxycycloalkyl phenyl ketones, dialkoxyacetophenones, α-hydroxy- or α-aminoacetophenones, 4-aroyl-1,3-dioxolanes, benzoin alkyl ethers and benzil ketals, phenylglyoxalic esters, dimeric phenylglyoxalic esters, monoacyl phosphine oxides, bisacylphosphine oxides, trisacylphosphine oxides, titanocenes, ferrocenes, anthraquinone, thioxanthones or xanthones or trichloromethyltriazines.

Examples of particularly suitable photoinitiators are: 1-(4-dodecylbenzoyl)-1-hydroxy-1-methylethane, 1-(4-isopropylbenzoyl)-1-hydroxy-1-methylethane, 1-benzoyl-1-hydroxy-1-methylethane, 1-[4(2-hydroxyethoxy)-benzoyl]-1-hydroxy-1-methylethane, 1-[4(acryloyloxyethoxy)benzoyl]-1-hydroxy-1-methylethane, diphenyl ketone, phenyl-1-hydroxy-cyclohexyl ketone, (4-morpholinobenzoyl)-1-benzyl-1-dimethylaminopropane, 1-(3,4-di-methoxyphenyl)-2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-butan-1-one, (4-methylthiobenzoyl)-1-methyl-1-morpholinoethane, benzil dimethyl ketal, phenylglyoxalic acid methylester, bis(cyclopentadienyl)-bis(2,6-difluoro-3-pyrryl-phenyl)titanium, cyclopentadienyl-arene-iron(II) complex salts, for example (η⁶ -iso-propylbenzene)(η⁵ -cyclopentadienyl)iron(II) hexafluorophosphate, (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)diphenylphosphine oxide, bis(2,6-dimethoxy-benzoyl)-(2,4,4-trimethyl-pentyl)phosphine oxide, bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-2,4-dipentoxyphenylphosphine oxide or bis-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phenylphosphine oxide and tris(2-methoxybenzoyl)phosphine oxide. Other suitable additional photoinitiators can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,581 column 20, line 35 to column 21, line 35.

Where the novel photoinitiator systems are employed in hybrid systems, use is made, in addition to the novel free-radical hardener systems, of cationic photoinitiators, for example peroxide compounds, such as benzoyl peroxide (other suitable peroxides are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,581 column 19, lines 17-25), aromatic sulfonium or iodonium salts as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,581, column 18, line 60 to column 19, line 10 or cyclopentadienyl-arene-iron(II) complex salts, for example (η⁶ -iso-propylbenzol)(η⁵ -cyclopentadien-yl)iron(II) hexafluorophosphate.

The invention therefore further provides compositions which in addition to the photoinitiator system (B) also comprise at least one further photoinitiator (C) and/or other additives. The photopolymerizable compositions include the photoinitiator system (B) or the mixture of the photoinitiator system (B) and the additional photoinitiator(s) (C) expediently in a quantity of from 0.01 to 15% by weight, for example 0.05 to 15% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 5% by weight, based on the composition. (The quantity indicated relates to the overall quantity of photoinitiator in the composition.)

Compositions comprising as photoinitiator (C) a titanocene, a ferrocene, a benzophenone, a benzoin alkyl ether, a benzil ketal, a 4-aroyl-1,3-dioxolane, a dialkoxyacetophenone, an α-hydroxy- or α-aminoacetophenone, an α-hydroxycycloalkyl phenyl ketone, a xanthone, a thioxanthone, an anthraquinone or a mono- or bisacylphosphine oxide, a trichloromethyltriazine, a phenylglyoxalic ester or a dimeric phenylglyoxalic ester or mixtures thereof, as additional photoinitiator are of particular preference. Especially preferred are combinations with α-aminoacetophenones, for example with (4-morpholino-benzoyl)-1-benzyl-1-dimethylaminopropan or (4-methylthiobenzoyl)-1-methyl-1-morpholino-ethan. Particularly preferred is a composition comprising as photoinitiator (C) an α-amino ketone and an onium compound.

The oxide cation salt is suitably present in the composition at 0.01 to 5, preferably from 0.05 to 2, % w/w. The electron donor compounds, e.g. the THB anion may be present at 0.01 to 10, e.g. 0.01 to 5, preferably 0.5 to 2 or 0.5 to 1, % by weight, but preferably within 10 mol percent of the oxide cation salt.

The composition may contain a peroxide such as benzoyl peroxide or a peroxyester such as tert-butyl perbenzoate, at for example 0.01 to 5, preferably from 0.5 to 1, % by weight.

A typical composition contains 0.5 to 125, especially 1 to 50 of additives, % by weight of the polymerizable components as defined above. Important additives include pigments and colouring matters for article identification purposes.

The composition may comprise additives appropriate for stereolithography.

If any such component absorbs light at a wavelength in part of the range at which photoinitiation takes place, a photoinitiator having absorption outside that part range should preferably be used, so as to permit polymerisation deep into the volume of composition used. As a particular example a composition contains rutile titania pigment and the oxide cation carries an alkyl or alkoxide substituent in the 4- position of the styryl group: whereas the pigment absorbs strongly at 400 nm and below, the oxide cations absorbs maximally at 420 nm (isopropyl) or 460 nm (methoxy). Consequently blue light penetration into the olefin composition is not prevented by the pigment and, owing to bleaching of the photoinitiator, is also not prevented by the photoinitiator itself.

The photopolymerizable compositions can be used for various purposes, for example as printing ink, as a clear finish, as a white finish, for example for wood or metal, as a coating material, inter alia for paper, wood, metal or plastic, as a daylight-curable coating for the marking of buildings and roadmarking, for photographic reproduction techniques, for holographic recording materials, for image recording techniques or to produce printing plates which can be developed with organic solvents or with aqueous alkalis, for producing masks for screen printing, as dental filling compositions, as adhesives, as pressure-sensitive adhesives, as laminating resins, as etch resists or permanent resists, and as solder masks for electronic circuits, for producing three-dimensional articles by mass curing (UV curing in transparent moulds) or by the stereolithography technique, as is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,330, to produce composite materials (for example styrenic polyesters, which may, if desired, contain glass fibres and other auxiliaries) and other thick-layered compositions, for coating or sealing electronic components, or as coatings for optical fibres.

The novel photoinitiator systems may additionally be employed as initiators for emulsion polymerizations, as polymerization initiators for fixing ordered states of liquid-crystalline monomers and oligomers, or as initiators for fixing dyes on organic materials.

In coating materials, use is frequently made of mixtures of a prepolymer with polyunsaturated monomers, which may additionally include a monounsaturated monomer as well. It is the prepolymer here which primarily dictates the properties of the coating film, and by varying it the skilled worker is able to influence the properties of the cured film. The polyunsaturated monomer functions as a crosslinking agent which renders the film insoluble. The monounsaturated monomer functions as a reactive diluent, which is used to reduce the viscosity without the need to employ a solvent.

Unsaturated polyester resins are usually used in two-component systems together with a monounsaturated monomer, preferably with styrene. For photoresists, specific one-component systems are often used, for example polymaleimides, polychalcones or polyimides, as described in DE-A-23 08 830.

The novel photoinitiator systems and mixtures thereof can also be used for the polymerization of radiation-curable powder coatings. The powder coatings can be based on solid resins and monomers containing reactive double bonds, for example maleates, vinyl ethers, acrylates, acrylamides and mixtures thereof. A free-radically UV-curable powder coating can be formulated by mixing unsaturated polyester resins with solid acrylamides (for example methyl methylacrylamidoglycolate) and a novel free-radical photoinitiator, such formulations being as described, for example, in the paper "Radiation Curing of Powder Coating", Conference Proceedings, Radtech Europe 1993 by M. Wittig and Th. Gohmann. The powder coatings can also contain binders, as are described, for example, in DE-A-42 28 514 and in EP-A-636 669. Free-radically UV-curable powder coatings can also be formulated by mixing unsaturated polyester resins with solid acrylates, methacrylates or vinyl ethers and with a novel photoinitiator (or photoinitiator mixture). The powder coatings may also comprise binders as are described, for example, in DE-A-42 28 514 and in EP-A-636 669. The UV-curable powder coatings may additionally comprise white or coloured pigments. For example, preferably rutiletitanium dioxide can be employed in concentrations of up to 50% by weight in order to give a cured powder coating of good hiding power. The procedure normally comprises electrostatic or tribostatic spraying of the powder onto the substrate, for example metal or wood, melting of the powder by heating, and, after a smooth film has formed, radiation-curing of the coating with ultraviolet and/or visible light, using for example medium-pressure mercury lamps, metal halide lamps or xenon lamps. A particular advantage of the radiation-curable powder coatings over their heat-curable counterparts is that the flow time after melting the powder particles can be delayed in order to ensure the formation of a smooth, high-gloss coating. In contrast to heat-curable systems, radiation-curable powder coatings can be formulated to melt at lower temperatures without the unwanted effect of shortening their lifetime. For this reason, they are also suitable as coatings for heat-sensitive substrates, for example wood or plastics. In addition to the novel photoinitiator systems, the powder coating formulations may also include UV absorbers. Appropriate examples are listed above in sections 1.-8.

The novel photocurable compositions are suitable, for example, as coating materials for substrates of all kinds, for example wood, textiles, paper, ceramics, glass, plastics such as polyesters, polyethylene terephthalate, polyolefins or cellulose acetate, especially in the form of films, and also metals such as Al, Cu, Ni, Fe, Zn, Mg or Co and GaAs, Si or SiO₂ to which it is intended to apply a protective layer or, by means of imagewise exposure, to generate an image.

Coating of the substrates can be carried out by applying to the substrate a liquid composition, a solution or a suspension. The choice of solvents and the concentration depend principally on the type of composition and on the coating technique. The solvent should be inert, i.e. it should not undergo a chemical reaction with the components and should be able to be removed again, after coating, in the course of drying. Examples of suitable solvents are ketones, ethers and esters, such as methyl ethyl ketone, isobutyl methyl ketone, cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, N-methylpyrrolidone, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, ethyl acetate, n-butyl acetate and ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate.

The solution is applied uniformly to a substrate by means of known coating techniques, for example by spin coating, dip coating, knife coating, curtain coating, brushing, spraying, especially by electrostatic spraying, and reverse-roll coating, and also by means of electrophoretic deposition. It is also possible to apply the photosensitive layer to a temporary, flexible support and then to coat the final substrate, for example a copper-clad circuit board, by transferring the layer via lamination.

The quantity applied (coat thickness) and the nature of the substrate (layer support) are dependent on the desired field of application. The range of coat thicknesses generally comprises values from about 0.1 μm to more than 100 μm, for example 20 mm.

The novel radiation-sensitive compositions further find application as negative resists, having a very high sensitivity to light and being able to be developed in an aqueous alkaline medium without swelling. They are suitable as photoresists for electronics (electroplating resist, etch resist, solder resist), the production of printing plates, such as offset printing plates or screen printing plates for use in chemical milling or as a microresist in the production of integrated circuits. The possible layer supports, and the processing conditions of the coating substrates, are just as varied.

The compositions according to the invention also find application for the production of one- or more-layered materials for the image recording ore image reproduction (copies, reprography), which may be uni- or polychromatic. Furthermore the materials are suitable for colour proofing systems. In this technology formulations containing-microcapsules can be applied and for the image production the radiation curing can be followed by a thermal treatment. Such systems and technologies and their applications are for example disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,459.

Substrates used for photographic information recordings include, for example, films of polyester, cellulose acetate or polymer-coated papers; substrates for offset printing formes are specially treated aluminium, substrates for producing printed circuits are copper-clad laminates, and substrates for producing integrated circuits are silicon wafers. The layer thicknesses for photographic materials and offset printing formes is generally from about 0.5 μm to 10 μm, while for printed circuits it is from 1.0 μm to about 100 μm. Following the coating of the substrates, the solvent is removed, generally by drying, to leave a coat of the photoresist on the substrate.

The term "imagewise" exposure includes both, exposure through a photomask comprising a predetermined pattern, for example a slide, as well as exposure by means of a laser beam, which for example is moved under computer control over the surface of the coated substrate and in this way produces an image, and irradiation with computer-controlled electron beams.

Following the imagewise exposure of the material and prior to development, it may be advantageous to carry out thermal treatment for a short time. In this case only the exposed sections are thermally cured. The temperatures employed are generally 50-150° C., preferably 80-130° C.; the period of thermal treatment is in general between 0.25 and 10 minutes.

The photocurable composition may additionally be used in a process for producing printing plates or photoresists as is described, for example, in DE-A-40 13 358. In such a process the composition is exposed for a short time to visible light with a wavelength of at least 400 nm, without a mask, prior to, simultaneously with or following imagewise irradiation.

After the exposure and, if implemented, thermal treatment, the unexposed areas of the photosensitive coating are removed with a developer in a manner known per se.

As already mentioned, the novel compositions can be developed by aqueous alkalis. Particularly suitable aqueous-alkaline developer solutions are aqueous solutions of tetraalkylammonium hydroxides or of alkali metal silicates, phosphates, hydroxides and carbonates. Minor quantities of wetting agents and/or organic solvents may also be added, if desired, to these solutions. Examples of typical organic solvents, which may be added to the developer liquids in small quantities, are cyclohexanone, 2-ethoxyethanol, toluene, acetone and mixtures of such solvents.

Photocuring is of great importance for printings, since the drying time of the binder is a critical factor for the production rate of graphic products, and should be in the order of fractions of seconds. UV-curable inks are particularly important for screen printing.

As already mentioned above, the novel mixtures are highly suitable also for producing printing plates. This application uses, for example, mixtures of soluble linear polyamides or styrene/butadiene and/or styrene/isoprene rubber, polyacrylates or polymethyl methacrylates containing carboxyl groups, polyvinyl alcohols or urethane acrylates with photopolymerizable monomers, for example acrylamides and/or methacrylamides, or acrylates and/or methacrylates, and a photoinitiator. Films and plates of these systems (wet or dry) are exposed over the negative (or positive) of the printed original, and the uncured parts are subsequently washed out using an appropriate solvent.

Another field where photocuring is employed is the coating of metals, in the case, for example, of the coating of metal plates and tubes, cans or bottle caps, and the photocuring of polymer coatings, for example of floor or wall coverings based on PVC.

Examples of the photocuring of paper coatings are the colourless varnishing of labels, record sleeves and book covers.

Also of interest is the use of the novel compounds and photoinitiator systems for curing shaped articles made from composite compositions. The composite compound consists of a self-supporting matrix material, for example a glass fibre fabric, or alternatively, for example, plant fibres [cf. K.-P. Mieck, T. Reussmann in Kunststoffe 85 (1995), 366-370], which is impregnated with the photocuring formulation. Shaped parts comprising composite compounds, when produced using the novel compounds, attain a high level of mechanical stability and resistance. The novel compounds can also be employed as photocuring agents in moulding, impregnating and coating compositions as are described, for example, in EP-A-7086. Examples of such compositions are gel coat resins, which are subject to stringent requirements regarding curing activity and yellowing resistance, and fibre-reinforced mouldings, for example, light diffusing panels which are planar or have lengthwise or crosswise corrugation. Techniques for producing such mouldings, such as hand lay-up, spray lay-up, centrifugal casting or filament winding, are described, for example, by P. H. Selden in "Glasfaserverstarkte Kunststoffe", page 610, Springer Verlag Berlin-Heidelberg-New York 1967. Examples of articles which can be produced by these techniques are boats, fibre board or chipboard panels with a double-sided coating of glass fibre-reinforced plastic, pipes, containers, etc. Further examples of moulding, impregnating and coating compositions are UP resin gel coats for mouldings containing glass fibres (GRP), such as corrugated sheets and paper laminates. Paper laminates may be based on urea resins or melamine resins. Prior to production of the laminate, the gel coat is produced on a support (for example a film). The novel photocurable compositions can also be used for casting resins or for embedding articles, for example electronic components, etc. Curing usually is carried out using medium-pressure mercury lamps as are conventional in UV curing. However, there is also particular interest in less intense lamps, for example of the type TL 40W/03 or TL40W/05. The intensity of these lamps corresponds approximately to that of sunlight. It is also possible to use direct sunlight for curing. A further advantage is that the composite composition can be removed from the light source in a partly cured, plastic state and can be shaped, with full curing taking place subsequently.

The compositions and compounds according to the invention can be used for the production of waveguides, optical switches wherein advantage is taken of the development of a difference in the index of refraction between irradiated and unirradiated areas.

The use of photocurable compositions for imaging techniques and for the optical production of information carriers is also important. In such applications, as already described above, the layer (wet or dry) applied to the support is irradiated through a photomask with UV or visible light, and the unexposed areas of the layer are removed by treatment with a solvent (=developer). Application of the photocurable layer to metal can also be carried out by electrodeposition. The exposed areas are polymeric through crosslinking and are therefore insoluble and remain on the support. Appropriate colouration produces visible images. Where the support is a metallized layer, the metal can, following exposure and development, be etched away at the unexposed areas or reinforced by electroplating. In this way it is possible to produce electronic circuits and photoresists.

The novel compounds and photoinitiator systems can also be used as a toner in a formulation as described e.g. in JP Kokai Hei 7-140718.

Further, the compounds and photoinitiator systems according to the present invention can be used to decolorize colored materials, as described for example in JP Kokai Hei 6-299106 or in photodecolorizing recording material as described for example in JP kokaio Hei 5-61247 or JP Kokai Hei 2-190383.

The new compounds can also be used in recording materials as described for example in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,842,980, 4,865,942 or 4,532,200. They may further be used in microcapsule systems together with latent dyes, as described for example in JP Kokai Hei 4-255848 or JP Kokai Hei 5-318909, or in multicolor systems as described in JP Kokai Hei 2-190386, JP Kokai Hei 2-190385, JP Kokai Hei 2-44 or JP Kokai Hei 2-223446.

The curing by means of the compounds and photoinitiator systems according to the present invention is in general initiated by electromagnetic radiation.

The photosensitivity of the novel compositions can, depending upon the added components, extend in general from about 200 nm through the UV region into the infrared region and therefore spans a very broad range. Suitable radiation is present, for example, in sunlight or light from artificial light sources. Consequently, a large number of very different types of light sources are employed. Both point sources and arrays ("lamp carpets") are suitable. Examples are carbon arc lamps, xenon arc lamps, medium-, high- and low-pressure mercury lamps, possibly with metal halide dopes (metal-halogen lamps), microwave-stimulated metal vapour lamps, excimer lamps, superactinic fluorescent tubes, fluorescent lamps, argon incandescent lamps, electronic flashlights, photographic flood lamps, light emitting diodes (LED), electron beams and X-rays, produced by means of synchrotrons or laser plasma. The distance between the lamp and the substrate to be exposed in accordance with the invention may vary depending on the intended application and the type and output of lamp, and may be, for example, from 2 cm to 150 cm. Laser light sources, for example excimer lasers, such as krypton F lasers for exposure at 248 nm are also suitable. Lasers in the visible region and in the IR region can also be employed. By this method it is possible to produce printed circuits in the electronics industry, lithographic offset printing plates or relief printing plates, and also photographic image recording materials.

The invention therefore also provides a process for the photopolymerization of nonvolatile monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric compounds containing at least one ethylenically unsaturated double bond, which comprises adding to the abovementioned compounds at least one photoinitiator system as described above and irradiating the resulting composition with electromagnetic radiation.

The invention additionally provides for producing pigmented and nonpigmented paints and varnishes, powder coatings, printing inks, printing plates, adhesives, dental compositions, waveguides, optical switches, colour proofing systems, glass fibre cable coatings, screen printing stencils, resist materials, composite compositions, decolorizing materials, decolorizing materials for image recording materials, for image recording materials using microcapsules, for photographic reproductions, for encapsulating electrical and electronic components, for producing magnetic recording materials, for producing three-dimensional objects by means of stereolithography, and as image recording material, especially for holographic recordings.

The invention further provides a coated substrate which is coated on at least one surface with a composition as described above, and describes a process for the photographic production of relief images, in which a coated substrate is subjected to imagewise exposure and then the unexposed portions are removed with a solvent. Of particular advantage in this context is the laser beam exposure already mentioned above.

The invention provides particularly a procedure of forming a polymer coating on a continuous strand or web of material by passing the strand or web through: at least one application zone in which the composition according to the invention is applied to it; and at least one irradiation zone in which the applied composition is caused to polymerise. As a result of the rapid action of the photoinitiator, the residence time in each zone can be short enough to permit continuous operation at high line speeds. As a result of the deep polymerisation made possible by the non-absorbing-decomposition of the photoinitiator, a single or multiple application can be followed by a single irradiation to produce coatings of thickness in the range 0.02 to 2 cm, even the achievement of higher thicknesses is possible.

A particular product of the procedure is an optical fibre comprising a glass-fibre and a coating of titania-pigmented acrylic polymer.

The examples which follow illustrate the invention in more detail. Parts and percentages are, as in the remainder of the description and in the claims, by weight, unless stated otherwise. Where alkyl radicals having more than three carbon atoms are referred to without any mention of specific isomers, the n-isomers are meant in each case.

A) Preparation of Oxide Cation Borates

EXAMPLE 1

In this compound of the formula I R is CH₃, n is 1, X is CH, R₁ and R₂ are H, and Y is H. The borate anion is trisphenyl-n-butyl-borate.

Tetramethylammoniumtriphenyl n-butyl borate (0.56 g; 0.0015 mol) is suspended in methanol (10.0 ml) in a blacked out flask and sonicated for 10 min. N-methoxy-2-styrylquinoline tosylate (0.71 g; 0.0016 mol) is added and the mixture heated at 40° C. for 30 min and allowed to cool. Then water (50.0 ml) is added and the suspended solid collected yielding the borate (0.66 g; 78 %) as a white solid (m.p. 124-135° C.). ¹ H-NMR and mass spectrum (M/Z(FAB MS), 262 (M⁺), 299 (M⁻), are consistent with the expected structure; λmax 403 nm (ethanol); elemental analysis for C₄₀ H₄₀ NOB [found(calculated) %]: C: 83.3 (85.5); H: 5.6 (7.1); N: 2.8 (2.5).

EXAMPLE 2

In this compound of the formula I R is CH₃, n is 1, X is CH, R₁ and R₂ are H and Y is 4-isopropyl. The borate anion is trisphenyl-n-butyl-borate.

Tetramethylammoniumtriphenyl n-butyl borate (2.4 g; 0.0064 mol) is suspended in methanol (40.0 ml) in a blacked out flask and sonicated for 10 min. N-methoxy-2-(4-isopropylstyryl)-quinoline tosylate (3.3 g; 0.0064 mol) is added and the mixture stirred at room temperature for 2 h. After this time the suspended solid is collected yielding the borate (2.66 g; 70%) as a white solid (m.p. 88-95° C.). ¹ H-NMR and mass spectrum (M/Z(FAB MS), 304 (M⁺) are consistent with the expected structure; λmax 422 nm (dichloromethane); elemental analysis for C₄₃ H₄₆ NOB [found(calculated) %]: C: 84.4 (85.4); H: 6.7 (7.6); N: 2.5 (2.3).

EXAMPLE 3

In this compound of the formula I R is CH₃, n is 1, X is CH, R₁ and R₂ are H, and Y is 4-OCH. The borate anion is trisphenyl-n-butyl-borate.

Tetramethylammoniumtriphenyl n-butyl borate (2.4 g; 0.0064 mol) is suspended in methanol (40.0 ml) in a blacked out flask and sonicated for 10 min. N-methoxy-2-(4-methoxystyryl)-quinoline tosylate (3.3 g; 0.007 mol) is added and the mixture stirred at room temperature for 1.5 h. After this time the suspended solid is collected yielding the borate (2.56 g; 67%) as a white solid (m.p. 137° C. dec). ¹ H-NMR and mass spectrum (M/Z(FAB MS), 292 (M⁺) are consistent with the expected structure; λmax 453 nm (dichloro-methane); elemental analysis for C₄₁ H₄₂ NO₂ B [found(calculated) %]: C: 81.9 (83.2); H: 7.1 (7.1); N: 2.5 (2.4).

EXAMPLE 4

In this compound of the formula I R is CH₃, n is 1, X is CH, R₁ and R₂ are H, and Y is 4-Cl. The borate anion is trisphenyl-n-butyl-borate.

Tetramethylammoniumtriphenyl n-butyl borate (2.4 g; 0.0064 mol) is suspended in methanol (40.0 ml) in a blacked out flask and sonicated for 10 min. N-methoxy-2-(4-chlorostyryl)-quinoline tosylate (3.3 g; 0.007 mol) is added and the mixture stirred at room temperature for 1.5 h. After this time the suspended solid is collected yielding the borate (2.38 g; 63%) as a white solid (m.p. 126-130° C.). ¹ H-NMR and mass spectrum (M/Z(FAB MS), 296 (M⁺) are consistent with the expected structure; λmax 405 nm (dichloromethane); elemental analysis for C₄₀ H₃₉ NOBCl [found (calculated) %]: C: 79.5 (80.6); H: 5.6 (6.5); N: 2.4 (2.4).

B) Application Examples

EXAMPLE 5

In yellow light compositions are prepared having the following ingredients:

Bis-acrylate resin precursor

100.00 g of NEORAD (RTM) resin F473 (ZENECA Resins Limited)

0.60 g of surfactant (Solsperse (RTM) 26000: ZENECA Specialties Limited)

25.00 g of titania pigment (TR92 TS43250 ex Tioxide)

0.01 g gmol 1⁻¹ of the photoinitiator to be tested

Each composition is mixed thoroughly, coated onto float glass panels using K Bar 5 (50 μm) and cured with a "FUSION D" (RTM) bulb such that the coating receives a 500 mJ/cm² dose of radiation.

The coatings are subjected to a Konig pendulum hardness test. The results, given in table 1 indicate that the coatings cured with the compound according to example 1, 2 or 3 are effectively cured.

Further the yellowness index YI (ASTM E313) of the cured coatings is determined. The results are shown in table 1.

The photoinitiator activities of compounds 1-3 were further evaluated by monitoring the progress of the polymerisation reaction by real time infrared spectroscopy. The percentage cure at 12 secs irradiation and the maximum rate of cure (% sec⁻¹) are shown in Table 2.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         photointiator            PH                                                    of example        YI     [s]                                                   ______________________________________                                         1                 0.06   54                                                    2                 0.14   73                                                    3                 0.20   73                                                    ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         photoinitiator   %      Max Rate                                               of example       Cure   % sec.sup.-1                                           ______________________________________                                         1                69.5   65.9                                                   2                75.5   55.0                                                   3                73.2   59.9                                                   ______________________________________                                    

Key to the compounds used in the following examples:

Borates: ##STR51##

Other electron donors: ##STR52##

EXAMPLE 6

A formulation is made by mixing the following components:

10.0 g dipentaerythritol-monohydroxy-pentaacrytate (®399, Sartomer Co., Berkshire, GB)

15.0 g tripropylenglycol-tiacrylate (Sartomer Co., Berksire, GB)

15.0 g N-vinylpyrolidon (Fluka)

10.0 g trismethylolpropan-triacrylate (Degussa)

50.0 g urethane-acrylate (®Actylan AJ20, Societe National des Poudres et Explosifs)

0.3 g silicon additive (®Byk 300, Byk-Mallinckrodt)

Portions of this formulation are mixed with 0.4% of a borate salt and 0.1-0.3% of a dye with respect to the total weight of the formulation. All operations are carried out under red light conditions. Portions of the formulation containing-the initiators are placed in black bottle caps with a diameter of 15 mm and a depth of 12 mm and covered with a mylar foil. these samples are subjected to different doses of light from different sources. After irradiation the films are removed from the bottle caps and the thickness of the films is measured. The results are given in Tables 3 and 4.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Borate   Dye     Xenon lamp/5 kW/30 cm distance                                salt %   salt %  5s         10s    50s                                         ______________________________________                                         B1       D       1          1.5    12                                          0.4      0.1                                                                   B2       D       1          2      11                                          0.4      0.1                                                                   B1       D       12         12     12                                          0.4      0.3                                                                   B2       D       1          1.5    11                                          0.4      0.3                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                                                     TL03/40 W/15 cm                                    Borate   Dye        Sunlight                                                                               distance                                           salt     salt       30s     50s                                                %        %          [mm]    [mm]                                               ______________________________________                                         B1       D          11       9                                                 0.4      0.1                                                                   B1       D          12      11                                                 0.4      0.2                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 7

To a commercially available unsaturated polyester, diluted with styrene (Alpolit UP 303, Hoechst) 0.4% of the borate salt B2 and 0.2% of the dye D are added and dissolved. Portions of the formulation containing the initiator combination are placed in black bottle caps with a diameter of 15 mm and a depth of 12 mm and covered with a mylar foil. These samples are subjected to different doses of light from different sources. After irradiation the films are removed from the bottle caps and the thickness of the films is measured. The results are given in Table 5.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                                         Xenon/5 W/       TL03/40 W/15 cm                                               30 cm      Sunlight                                                                             distance                                      Borate  Dye     20s        30s   50s                                           salt %  salt %  [mm]       [mm]  [mm]                                          ______________________________________                                         B2      D       3          1     1                                             0.4     0.2                                                                    of example 1                                                                           --      5          --    2                                             0.3                                                                            ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 8

The composition described in example 6 is mixed with 0.4%, based on the overall quantity of the formulation, the dye borate according to example 1.

All operations are carried out under red light. The sample to which the borate has been added are applied to a 300 μm aluminium foil. The thickness of the dry film is 60 μm. To this film there is applied a 76 μm thick polyester film, over which a standardized test negative having 21 steps of different optical density (Stouffer wedge) is placed. The sample is covered with a second UV-transparent film and compressed on a metal plate by means of vacuum. Exposure is carried out in a first test series for 5 seconds, in a second series for 10 seconds and in a third series for 20 seconds, using a 4 kW xenon lamp at a distance of 30 cm. Following exposure, the cover films and the mask are removed and the exposed film is developed in ethanol for 10 seconds at 23° C. in an ultrasound bath. Drying is carried out at 40° C. in a convection oven for 5 minutes. The sensitivity of the initiator system used is characterized by indicating the last wedge step which is reproduced (i.e. polymerized) without tack. The higher the number of steps, the more sensitive the system tested. The results are summarized in Table 6.

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                                   Conc.                                                                Initiator [%]      5"    10"    20"  Observation                               ______________________________________                                         compound  0.4      5     8      10   bleaching                                 of example 1                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 9

The procedure according to example 8 is carried out with the dye borate combinations given in the following table 7. The results are reproduced in the same table.

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                                       Conc.  Conc.                                                                   dye    borate                                                    dye  borate   [%]    [%]   5"  10"   20"  Observation                          ______________________________________                                         D    B1       0.3    0.4   10  11    14   bleaching                            D    B3       0.3    0.4    9  11    13   bleaching                            D    B4       0.3    0.4   10  12    14   bleaching                            D    B5       0.3    0.4    9  11    13   bleaching                            D    B6       0.3    0.4    4   6     9   bleaching                            D    B7       0.3    0.4    5   8    10   bleaching                            D    B8       0.3    0.4    9  11    13   bleaching                            ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 10

The procedure according to example 8 is carried out with the dyes and electron donors given in the following table 8. The results are reproduced in the same table.

                  TABLE 8                                                          ______________________________________                                                          Conc.  Conc.                                                                   dye    donor                                                  dye  electron donor                                                                             [%]    [%]  5"  10"  20"  Observation                         ______________________________________                                         D    Triethanolamine                                                                            0.3    0.4  0   0    3    bleaching                           D    Quantacure DMB                                                                             0.3    0.4  0   0    2    bleaching                           D    Quantacure EPD                                                                             0.3    0.4  0   1    3    bleaching                           D    E2          0.3    0.4  0   1    2    bleaching                           ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 11

A photocurable composition is prepared by mixing the following components:

37.64 g of pentaerythritol triacrylate (®Sartomer SR 444, Sartomer Company, Westchester)

10.76 g of hexamethoxymethylmelamine (®Cymel 301, American Cyanamid, USA)

47.30 g of thermoplastic polyacrylate containing carboxyl groups (®Carboset 525, B. F. Goodrich)

4.30 g of polyvinylpyrrolidone PVP (GAF, USA)

100.00 g of this composition are mixed with

319.00 g of methylene chloride and

30.00 g of methanol.

This composition is mixed with the compound of example 1, based on the solids content, by stirring at room temperature for one hour. All operations are carried out under red light. The sample to which initiator has been added is applied to a 300 μm aluminium foil (10×15 cm). The solvent is removed by first drying at room temperature for 5 minutes and then heating at 60° C. for 15 minutes in a convection oven, to give a dry film thickness of 35 μm. A 76 μm thick polyester film is placed on the liquid film, and a standardized test negative with 21 steps of different optical density (Stouffer wedge) is placed over this. The sample is covered with a second UV-transparent film and is compressed on a metal plate by means of vacuum. The sample is then exposed for the time indicated in the table using a 4 kW xenon lamp at a distance of 30 cm. After exposure, the cover films and the mask are removed and the exposed film is developed for 240 seconds with 1% aqueous sodium carbonate solution in a spray developer and then dried at 60° C. in a convection oven for 15 minutes. The sensitivity of the initiator system used is characterized by indicating the last wedge step reproduced without tack. The higher the number of steps, the more sensitive the system. The results are given in Table 9.

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                                   Conc.                                                                Initiator [%]      10"    20"    40"  Observation                              ______________________________________                                         compound of                                                                              0.4      9      12     14   bleaching                                example 1                                                                      ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 12

Example 12 is carried out in the formulation described in example 11 and according to the procedure of example 11. The initiator systems employed as well as the test results are summarized in table 10.

                  TABLE 10                                                         ______________________________________                                                      Conc.   Conc.                                                                  borate  dye                                                       borate                                                                               dye    [%]     [%]  10"  20"   40"  Observation                          ______________________________________                                         B1    D      0.4     0.3  11   13    15   bleaching                            B3    D      0.4     0.3  9    11    13   bleaching                            B4    D      0.4     0.3  11   13    14   bleaching                            B5    D      0.4     0.3  3     6     8   bleaching                            B6    D      0.4     0.3  9    11    13   bleaching                            B9    D      0.4     0.3  8    11    13   bleaching                            B7    D      0.4     0.3  7     9    11   bleaching                            ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 13

The procedure according to example 11 is repeated employing the initiator systems given in table 11. The results are collected in table 11, too.

                  TABLE 11                                                         ______________________________________                                                           Conc.  Conc.                                                        electron   dye    donor                                                 dye    donor      [%]    [%]      20"  40"                                     ______________________________________                                         D      E1         0.3    0.4      1    3                                       D      B10        0.3    0.4      1    3                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 14

The procedure according to example 11 is repeated employing the initiator systems given in table 12, where additionally the results are reproduced.

                  TABLE 12                                                         ______________________________________                                                 Co-     Conc.   Conc.                                                          initiator                                                                              borate  B1                  Obser-                             borate  borate  [%]     [%]  10"  20"  40"  vation                             ______________________________________                                         of example 1                                                                           B1      0.3     0.3  10   13   15   bleaching                          of example 1                                                                           B1      0.3     0.6  11   14   16   bleaching                          of example 1                                                                           B1      0.3     1.2  12   16   18   bleaching                          ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 15

A photocurable mixture is prepared by mixing of the following components:

    ______________________________________                                                                 solid                                                                          contents                                               ______________________________________                                         150.30 g of a 30% solution of polystyrol-maleic                                                              45.1 g                                                    acid anhydride-copolymer in acetone                                            (®Scripset 540, Monsanto)                                         48.30 g  trimethylolpropane triacrylate                                                                      48.3 g                                           6.60 g   polyethylenglycol diacrylate                                                                         6.6 g                                                                         100.0 g                                          ______________________________________                                    

Portions of this composition are mixed with the initiator systems given in table 13, based on the solids content, by stirring at room temperature for one hour. All operations are carried out under red light.

The sample to which initiator has been added is applied to an aluminium foil (10×15 cm). The solvent is removed by drying at 60° C. for 15 minutes in a convection oven. A 76 μm thick polyester film is placed on the liquid film, and a standardized test negative with 21 steps of different optical density (Stouffer wedge) is placed over this. The sample is covered with a second UV-transparent film and is compressed on a metal plate by means of vacuum. The sample is then exposed for the time indicated in table 13 using a 4 kW xenon lamp at a distance of 30 cm. After exposure, the cover films and the mask are removed and the exposed film is developed for 120 seconds with 0.85% strength aqueous sodium carbonate solution in an ultrasound bath and then dried at 60° C. in a convection oven for 15 minutes. The sensitivity of the initiator system used is characterized by indicating the last wedge step reproduced without tack. The higher the number of steps, the more sensitive the system. The results are given in Table 13.

                  TABLE 13                                                         ______________________________________                                                      Conc.  Conc.                                                                   dye    borate                                                     dye  borate  [%]    [%]    10"  20"  40"  Observation                          ______________________________________                                         D    B2      0.3    0.4    9    12   14   bleaching                            D    B14     0.3    0.4    8    11   13   bleaching                            D    B13     0.3    0.4    8    10   12   bleaching                            D    B12     0.3    0.4    9    12   14   bleaching                            D    B11     0.3    0.4    9    11   13   bleaching                            ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 16

In the photocurable mixture described in example 15, the photoinitiator systems given in the following table 14 are tested according to the procedure of example 15. The compounds and test results are summarized ion table 14.

                  TABLE 14                                                         ______________________________________                                                           Conc.                                                                          electron                                                                               Conc.                                                                  donor   dye                                                  electron donor                                                                          dye      [%]     [%]    40"  Observation                              ______________________________________                                         triethanolamine                                                                         D        0.3     0.4    2    bleaching                                E1       D        0.3     0.4    2    bleaching                                ______________________________________                                     

What is claimed is:
 1. A photoinitiator system comprising (a) at least one O-alkylated aromatic nitrogen-heterocycle amine oxide cation salt of the formula I ##STR53## X is CH, C--CH₃, C--Cl, C--O--C₁ -C₈ alkyl or N; R is C₁ -C₆ alkyl, benzyl, CH₂ COOR₃ or a group ##STR54## R₁ is C₁ -C₈ alkoxy, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, halogen, NO₂, benzyloxy or phenyloxy, wherein the phenyl ring in the benzyloxy or phenyloxy group is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -Cl₂ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, halogen or CF₃ ;R₂ is C₁ -C₈ alkoxy, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, benzyloxy or phenyloxy, wherein the phenyl ring in the benzyloxy or phenyloxy group is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, halogen or CF₃ ; R₃ is hydrogen, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl or benzyl; Y is unsubstituted or C₁ -C₆ alkoxy-substituted C₁ -C₆ alkyl, or Y is C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, halogen, CF₃, NO₂, CF₃ O, benzyloxy or phenyloxy, wherein the phenyl ring in the benzyloxy or phenyloxy group is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, halogen or CF₃ or, if n is two and both Y are alkoxy these alkoxy groups may form a dioxolane or dioxane fused to the phenyl of the styryl residue; n is 1 to 4; and L is an anion and optionally (b) at least one electron donor compound.
 2. A photoinitiator system according to claim 1, wherein the electron donor compound (b) is a borate, thiol, amine, organotin compound, phosphine, arsine, sulfinate, carboxylate or aluminate.
 3. A photoinitiator system according to claim 2, wherein the borate is a compound of the formula II or IIa ##STR55## wherein R₄, R₅, R₆ and R₇ independently of one another are phenyl or another aromatic hydrocarbon, with or without any heteroatoms, which aromatic radicals are unsubstituted or are substituted 1-5 times by unsubstituted or OR₂₃ - or R₂₄ R₂₅ N-substituted C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₂ -C₂₀ alkyl which is interrupted by one or more radicals O, S(O)_(p) or NR₂₆, or the aromatic radicals are substituted by OR₂₃, R₂₃ S(O)_(p), R₂₃ S(O)₂ O, R₂₄ R₂₅ N, R₂₃ OC(O), R₂₄ R₂₅ NC(O), R₂₇ C(O), R₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉ Si, R₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉ Sn, halogen, CN, R₂₇ R₂₈ P(O)_(q), CN and/or ##STR56## or the radicals R₅ and R₆ form bridges to produce structures of the formula IV, IVa or IVb (IV) (IVa) (IVb) ##STR57## whose aromatic rings are unsubstituted or are substituted by C_(1-C) ₂₀ alkyl, by C₂ -C₂₀ alkyl which is interrupted by one or more radicals O, S(O)_(p) or NR₂₆, or the aromatic rings are substituted by OR₂₃, R₂₃ S(O)_(p), R₂₃ S(O)₂ O, R₂₄ R₂₅ N, R₂₃ OC(O), R₂₄ R₂₅ NC(O), R₂₇ C(O), R₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉ Si, halogen, CN, R₂₇ R₂₈ P(O)_(q) and/or R₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉ Sn, or R₄, R₅, R₆ and R₇ independently of one another are R₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉ Si, or R₄, R₅, R₆ and R₇ independently of one another are C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₂ -C₂₀ alkyl which is interrupted by one or more radicals O, S(O)_(p) or NR₂₆, or is C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl, C₂ -C₈ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or naphthyl-C₁ -C₃ alkyl, where the radicals C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl, C₂ -C₈ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or naphthyl-C₁ -C₃ alkyl are unsubstituted or are substituted by OR₂₃, R₂₃ S(O)_(p), R₂₃ S(O)₂ O, R₂₄ R₂₅ N, R₂₃ OC(O), R₂₄ R₂₅ NC(O), R₂₇ C(O), R₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉ Si, R₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉ Sn, halogen, R₂₇ R₂₈ P(O)_(q), and/or CN;R₈ is a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon radical which is unsubsituted or is substituted by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, OR₂₃, R₂₃ S(O)_(p), R₂₃ S(O)₂ O, R₂₄ R₂₅ N, R₂₃ OC(O), R₂₄ R₂₅ NC(O), R₂₇ C(O), R₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉ Si, CN or halogen, or R₈ is phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkylene; E is R₁₅ R₁₆ R₁₇ P, R₂₃ R₂₄ R₂₅ N or R₂₃ R_(23a) S; R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ independently of one another are C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₂ -C₁₂ alkenyl or C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl, where the radicals C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₂ -C₁₂ alkenyl and C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl are unsubstituted or are substituted by R₂₃ OCO or CN, or R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are unsubstituted or mono- to penta-C₁ -C₆ alkyl-, --C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy- or -halogen-substituted phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or are unsubstituted or mono- to penta-C₁ -C₆ alkyl-, --C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy- or -halogen-substituted phenyl; Y₁ is (CH₂)_(x), CH═CH, C(O), NR₂₆, O, S(O)_(p) --CR₄₂ R₄₃ --, ##STR58## x is 0, 1, 2 or 3; y is 2 or 3; p is 0 or 2; q is 0 or 1; R₂₃ and R_(23a) independently of one another are unsubstituted or halogen-substituted C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl, where the radicals phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl are unsubstituted or are substituted 1-5 times by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy and/or halogen; R₂₄, and R₂₅ independently of one another are hydrogen, unsubstituted or C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy-, halogen-, OH--, COOR₂₃ -- or CN-substituted C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl, where the radicals phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl are unsubstituted or are substituted 1-5 times by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy and/or halogen, or R₂₄ and R₂₅, together with the N atom to which they are attached, form a 5- or 6-membered ring which may additionally contain O or S atoms; R₂₆ is hydrogen, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl, where the radicals phenyl-C_(1-C) ₆ alkyl or phenyl are unsubstituted or are substituted 1-5 times by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy and/or halogen; R₂₇, R₂₈ and R₂₉ independently of one another are C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl, where the radicals phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl are unsubstituted or are substituted 1-5 times by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy and/or halogen; R₃₀, R₃₁, R₃₂ and R₃₃ independently of one another are hydrogen, unsubstituted or C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy-substituted C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, unsubstituted or mono- to penta-C₁ -C₆ alkyl-, --C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy- or -halogen-substituted phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or are unsubstituted or mono- to penta-C₁ -C₆ alkyl-, --C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy- or -halogen-substituted phenyl, or any two of the radicals R₃₀, R₃₁, R₃₂ and R₃₃ together form an aromatic ring to which further aromatic rings may be fused; R₃₄, R₃₅, R₃₆, R₃₇, R₃₈ and R₃₉ independently of one another are hydrogen, unsubstituted or C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy-, OH-- or halogen-substituted C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl or are unsubstituted or C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl-, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy-, OH-- or halogen-substituted phenyl; R₄₂ and R₄₃ are C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl, or R₄₂ and R₄₃, together with the C atom to which they are attached, form a 5- or 6-membered ring; X₂ is N, S or O; and G is a radical which is able for form positive ions.
 4. A photoinitiator system according to claim 2, wherein the borate is a compound of the formula III ##STR59## n, m and o are each a number from 0 to 50, but are not simultaneously 0; u and v are 0 or 1, and at least one of the indices u and v is 1;R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂ and R₁₃ independently of one another are phenyl or another aromatic hydrocarbon, which radicals are unsubstituted or are substituted by unsubstituted or halo-, OR₂₃ - and /or NR₂₄ R₂₅ -substituted C₁ -C₆ alkyl, or are substituted by OR₂₃, S(O)_(p) R₂₃, OS(O)₂ R₂ ₃, NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)OR₂₃, C(O)NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)R₂₇, SiR₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉, BR₄₀ R₄₁, P(O)_(q) R₂₇ R₂₈, CN or halogen; p is 0, 1 or 2; q is 0 or 1; R₁₄ is C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl, C₂ -C₈ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or naphthyl-C₁ -C₃ alkyl, the radicals C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl, C₂ -C₈ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl or naphthyl being unsubstituted or substituted by OR₂₃, S(O)_(p) R₂₃, OS(O)₂ R₂₃, NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)OR₂₃, C(O)NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)R₂₇, ##STR60## SiR₂₈ R₂₉, BR₄₀ R₄₁, CN or halogen, or R₁₄ is phenyl or another aromatic hydrocarbon radical, which radicals are unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, OR₂₃, S(O)_(p) R₂₃, OS(O)₂ R₂₃, NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)OR₂₃, C(O)NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)R₂₇, SiR₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉, BR₄₀ R₄₁, CN or halogen, at least one of the radicals R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂ and R₁₃ being a phenyl radical which is substituted ortho to the bond to the boron atom, or being another aromatic hydrocarbon radical which is sterically hindered ortho to the boron atom; R₂₃, R₂₄, R₂₅, R₂₆, R₂₇, R₂₈, R₂₉ are as defined above for the formula II; R₄₀ and R₄₁ independently of one another are as defined for R₂₃ or are C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or together with the B atom to which they are attached, form a 5- or 6-membered ring; X₁ is C₁ -C₂₀ alkylene which is unsubstituted or substituted by OR₂₃, S(O)_(p) R₂₃, OS(O)₂ R₂₃, NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)OR₂₃, C(O)NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)R₂₇, SiR₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉, BR₄₀ R₄₁, CN, halogen or P(O)_(q) R₂₇ R₂₈, or X₁ is C₃ -C₁₂ cycloalkylene or C₂ -C₈ alkenylene, each of which is unsubstituted or substituted by OR₂₃, S(O)_(p) R₂₃, OS(O)₂ R₂₃, NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)OR₂₃, C(O)NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)R₂₇, SiR₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉, BR₄₀ R₄₁, CN or halogen, or where these radicals are interrupted by one or more groups --O--, --S(O)_(p) -- or --NR₂₆ --, or X₁ is a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon radical which is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, OR₂₃, S(O)_(p) R₂₃, OS(O)₂ R₂₃, NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)OR₂₃, C(O)NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)R₂₇, SiR₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉, BR₄₀ R₄₁, CN, halogen, or X₁ is C₁ -C₂₀ alkylene which is interrupted by one or more groups --O--, --S(O)_(p) -- or --NR₂₆ --, or X₁ is a radical of the formula V or VI ##STR61## Y₁ is --(CH₂)_(x) --, --C(O)--, --NR₂₆ --, --O--, --S(O)_(p) --, --CR₄₂ R₄₃ --, --CH═CH--, ##STR62## x is 0, 1, 2 or 3; y is 2 or 3; R₄₂ and R₄₃ are C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl, or R₄₂ and R₄₃, together with the C atom to which they are attached, form a 5- or 6-membered ring; A and Q independently of one another are a direct bond, --(CH₂)_(x) --, --CH═CH--, --C(O)--, --NR₂₆ --, --S(O)_(p) --, --CR₄₂ R₄₃ --, ##STR63## or the radicals R₉ , R₁₀, R₁₂, R₁₃ and X₁ form bridges to produce radicals of the formula (VII) or (VIII) ##STR64## A₁ is --(CH₂)_(t) --, --CH═CH--, --C(O)--, --NR₂₆ --, --O--, --S(O)_(p) --, --CR₄₂ R₄₃ --, ##STR65## t is 0, 1 or 2; the radicals of the formulae (V), (VI), (VII) and (VIII) being unsubstituted or being substituted on the aromatic rings by OR₂₃, S(O)_(p) R₂₃, OS(O)₂ R₂₃, NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)OR₂₃, C(O)NR₂₄ R₂₅, C(O)R₂₇, SiR₂₇ R₂₈ R₂₉, BR₄₀ R₄₁, CN or halogen and where additional phenyl rings may be fused to the phenyl rings of the formulae (V), (VI), (VII) and (VIII); G is a radical which is able to form positive ions.
 5. A composition comprising(A) at least one ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable compound and (B) at least one photoinitiator system according to claim
 1. 6. A composition according to claim 5 comprising additionally to components (A) and (B) at least one further photoinitiator (C), and/or further coinitiators (D) and/or other additives.
 7. A composition according to claim 6, comprising a titanocene, a ferrocene, a benzophenone, a benzoin alkyl ether, a benzyl ketal, a 4-aroyl-1,3-dioxolane, a dialkoxyaretophenone, an α-hydroxy- or α-aminoacetophenone, an α-hydroxycycloalkyl phenyl ketone, a phenylglyoxalic ester, a xanthone, a thioxanthone, an anthraquinone or a mono-, bis- or trisacylphosphine oxide, or mixtures thereof, as additional photoinitiator (C).
 8. A composition according to claim 6, wherein the further coinitiator (D) is a a neutral, cationic or anionic dye.
 9. A composition according to claim 8, wherein the further coinitiator (D) is a dye, which changes or looses colour during or after the irradiation.
 10. A composition according to claim 6, comprising as photoinitiator (C) an α-amino ketone and as coinitiator (D) an onium compound.
 11. A composition according to claim 6, comprising from 0.01 to 15% by weight, of component (B) or of components (B) and (C), based on the composition.
 12. A process for the photopolymerization of nonvolatile monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric compounds containing at least one ethylenically unsaturated double bond, which comprises adding at least one photoinitiator system according to claim 1 to said compounds and irradiating the resulting composition with electromagnetic radiation.
 13. A process for the photopolymerization of nonvolatile monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric compounds containing at least one ethylenically unsaturated double bond, for producing pigmented and nonpigmented paints and varnishes, powder coatings, printing inks, printing plates, adhesives, dental compositions, waveguides, optical switches, colour proofing systems, glass fibre cable coatings, screen printing stencils, resist materials, composite compositions, decolorizing materials, decolorizing materials for image recording materials, for image recording materials using microcapsules, for photographic reproductions, for encapsulating electrical and electronic components, for producing magnetic recording materials, for producing three-dimensional objects by means of stereolithography, and for producing image recording material,which process comprises adding at least one photoinitiator system according to claim 1 to said nonvolatile monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric compounds and irradiating the resulting composition with electromagnetic radiation.
 14. A coated substrate which is coated on at least one surface with a composition according to claim
 6. 15. A process for the photographic production of relief images, which comprises exposing a coated substrate according to claim 14 electromagnetic radiation either imagewise and then removing the unexposed coating composition with a solvent, or by means of a movable laser beam (without a mask) and then removing the unexposed coating composition with a solvent.
 16. A compound of the formula I ##STR66## wherein X is CH, C--CH₃, C--Cl, C--O--C₁ -C₈ alkyl or N;R is C₁ -C₆ alkyl, benzyl, CH₂ COOR₃ or a group ##STR67## R₁ is C₁ -C₈ alkoxy, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, halogen, NO₂, benzyloxy or phenyloxy, wherein the phenylring in the benzyloxy or phenyloxy group is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, halogen or CF₃ ; R₂ is C₁ -C₈ alkoxy, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, benzyloxy or phenyloxy, wherein the phenylring in the benzyloxy or phenyloxy group is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, halogen or CF₃ ; R₃ is hydrogen, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl or benzyl; Y is unsubstituted or C₁ -C₆ alkoxy-substituted C₁ -C₆ alkyl, or Y is C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, halogen, CF₃, NO₂, CF₃ O, benzyloxy or phenyloxy, wherein the phenylring in the benzyloxy or phenyloxy group is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, halogen or CF₃ or, if n is two and both Y are alkoxy these alkoxy groups may form a dioxolane or dioxane fused to the phenyl of the styryl residue; n is 1 to 4; and L is an anion.
 17. The compound of the formula Ib; ##STR68## where X is CH or N;R is C₁₋₆ alkyl; and Y is a bathochromic, neutral or hypsochromic substituent; n is 1 to
 4. 18. A process for the preparation of the compound of the formula I according to claim 16 by the steps:(1) providing an aromatic nitrogen-heterocycle having a methylene group in one or more of the 2-, 4- and 6-positions relative to a ring nitrogen; (2) oxidising the relevant ring nitrogen to amine oxide; (3) reacting the amine oxide with a benzaldehyde optionally carrying n substituents Y, catalysed by alkali; (4) alkylating the product of (3) by the action of an alkylating agent to give the oxide cation as the salt of the anion of the alkylating agent. 